Virginia

Behavioral Health Worker Charged With Second Rape At Center in Virginia

Family contacted police after learning victim got pregnant

A man who worked at a Northern Virginia community center for people living with disabilities has been accused of raping a second mentally incapacitated woman, Fairfax County police said.

Bernard Betts-King, 60, was first charged earlier this week with raping a woman through the use of her mental incapacity. He was charged after the woman's family discovered she was pregnant.

On Friday, more charges were filed in the 2017 rape of another woman who is mentally incapacitated.

Betts-King was working with the victim as a behavioral specialist at the MVLE Community Center when the 2018 rape occurred, according to a police statement.

“In August of 2018, our detectives were notified by a family member that the victim had unfortunately become pregnant, and she was not capable of consent due to physical and mental capacities,” Fairfax County police Capt. Thea Pirnat said.

Police used DNA to develop Betts-King as a suspect. It's possible he may have targeted other women.

MVLE previously said it is cooperating with the police investigation and Betts-King no longer works for the agency.

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MVLE said on its website that it helps people with disabilities find jobs or get training, in addition to providing other social services.

Betts-King also worked for Community Living Alternatives in Fairfax.

“We were shocked, taken aback by it,” Executive Director Susan Keenan said. “We’re focused entirely on making sure that our individuals are safe and healthy right now."

It's unclear if Betts-King has a lawyer who could comment.

Detectives believe there may be more victims and are asking the public to call 703-246-7800 if they have information. Betts-King is currently being held without bond at the Adult Detention Center.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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