News 4 Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey talked to a woman who said she feels “betrayed” by the Virginia probation officer and former substitute teacher charged with abusing a 10-year-old girl.
An Arlington County probation officer is accused of assaulting a 10-year-old girl in Woodbridge.
Marco Antonio Silva, 40, is charged with aggravated sexual battery in Prince William County.
Silva was arrested after an investigation by detectives from the Special Victims Unit. They were called July 9 to investigate a sexual assault that happened at a home in the 3500 block of Forestdale Avenue in Woodbridge two days earlier.
Authorities say Silva sexually assaulted the victim, a 10-year-old girl, who was a known acquaintance.
News4's Julie Carey spoke to a woman who knows Silva and the victim. She wanted to remain anonymous.
"I was totally floored," she said. "I actually had to hear it a few times before I actually even processed it and then when I saw his mugshot, I guess that's when it became real."
She said she's troubled by the charges because of the positive imagine Silva had in the community.
"My trust has been betrayed. You should be able to trust someone that you meet at church, that's a probation officer, that's a firefighter... those are people that you trust in the public eye and he just ruined it," she said. "[The victim] is strong. She's so strong and so courageous."
Silva was arrested and is being held without bond.
Diana Sun with Arlington County confirmed Monday night that Silva works for the county as a probation officer for adult parolees.
"We are aware of his arrest in Prince William County and are cooperating fully with the police investigation there," she wrote in an email. "Mr. Silva has been placed on administrative leave without pay, pending the outcome of the investigation."
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Silva has worked as a substitute teacher.
