Sex offender arrested for abusing children at Annandale daycare center

Thomas [FCPD]

Fairfax County police detectives arrested Elwood Lewis Thomas, 35 of the Richmond Highway area, today for the sexual abuse of several juveniles at an in-home daycare facility in Annandale.

The Happy Land daycare center operated in a home in the 6400 block of Holyoke Drive from approximately 1999 to 2012. Thomas lived in the home during that time, said Capt. Thea Pirnat, commander of the Major Crimes Division, during a briefing Sept. 25.

Detectives initially received information that Thomas had unlawful sexual contact with children at the daycare in June 2012. After an investigation, he was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual battery later that year. Thomas plead guilty and served one year in jail.

Then in July of this year, detectives learned that three additional juveniles disclosed they had been sexually assaulted by Thomas between 2006 and 2010 at Happy Land.

Since then, detectives conducted interviews and examined the available evidence. As a result, Thomas was charged with five counts of rape, one count of abduction with the intent to defile, and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. He is being held without bond at the Adult Detention Center.

Pirnat declined to reveal the ages or genders of the victims to protect their privacy. Happy Land served children ages eight months to 12 years old. New information suggests that Thomas might have been employed there before it closed in 2012, she said.

Thomas is a registered sex offender and is on active probation with electronic monitoring. According to Pirnat, there is no evidence that he had contact with children since his release from jail.

Specialists from the FCPD Victim Services Division have been assigned to ensure that the victims are receiving appropriate resources and assistance. Pirnat thanked the victims and their families for the courage to come forward.

The case is still active, and detectives believe there might be more victims. Anyone who has information or may have had inappropriate contact with Thomas should call Major Crimes Bureau detectives at 703-246-7800. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers.