Former school system worker guilty of enticing teen

By Tasha Kates

Published: July 22, 2008

LOVINGSTON — A former Albemarle County public schools employee who police said sent sexually charged text messages to a 17-year-old girl will spend three months in jail after pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

Louin Richard Deane, 45, entered a guilty plea Tuesday to attempting to contribute to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor. Nelson Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jeremy L. Boggs asked in court for Deane’s indictment to be amended to the new charge from use of a communications system to facilitate certain offenses involving children, a felony.

“Given the circumstances of the case and the wishes of the victim’s family, this was the best resolution,” Boggs said.

According to authorities, Deane had been text messaging the Nelson teen in August, trying to convince her to have sex with him. At the time, Deane was the assistant director for facilities management for Albemarle schools, according to a division spokeswoman. Authorities said Deane knew the teenager through her mother, who also worked for Albemarle.

The Daily Progress previously requested the text message records under the Freedom of Information Act, but was denied because the case was active. Calls
made to the sheriff’s office Tuesday requesting the files were not immediately returned.

Deane worked with Albemarle schools for 19 years, and held his last position for six years, a schools spokeswoman said. He resigned Dec. 20, the same day authorities arrested him in connection with the text messages.

Prior to being sentencing Tuesday, Deane expressed regret for what happened.
“I’m sorry for what I did,” he said.

Deane’s attorney, Francis McQ. Lawrence, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
Circuit Court Judge J. Michael Gamble sentenced Deane to 12 months in jail, but suspended nine months of his sentence pending two years of good behavior.

Deane’s sentence will allow him to take part in the work release program at the Albemarle-Charlot-tesville Regional Jail.
Deane will report to the jail Aug. 5 to serve his sentence. Boggs said Deane previously served one day in jail in connection with the offense.