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Police: Newport News school orchestra director arrested for sex crimes

Posted at 10:16 AM, Aug 30, 2012
and last updated 2012-08-30 10:54:58-04

John Douglas Lenwell

A Newport News man has been arrested for various sex crimes with two people once under his supervision, including sodomy.

On August 6, 2012, two Newport News men, age 19 and age 21, came to police headquarters to file reports of sexual abuse.

A detective immediately began an investigation into the two allegations. Police say at some point between 2007 and 2008, the now 21-year-old victim, who was 17 years old at the time of the incidents, had been sexually abused by the suspect.

In addition, the victim was a student of the suspect, who was the Orchestra Director at Denbigh High School at the time of the incidents.

Police say the sexual abuse of the 19-year-old happened between April 2012 and August 2012. The offenses against both victims are reported to have occurred at the suspect’s residence.

John Douglas Lenwell, age 44, of the 200 block of Vista Drive in Newport News, has been charged with two counts of indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship, one count of forcible sodomy, and two counts of sexual battery.

Lenwell was arrested on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 and was placed in the custody of the Newport News City Jail.

Anyone who believes they or their child may have been victimized by this suspect is asked to contact the Newport News Police Department’s Special Victims Unit at (757) 928-4200.

Anonymous information may be provided to Newport News Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. Information may also be sent by text message to nocrime@nngov.com.