A special education teacher at Cooper Middle School in McLean has been charged with two counts of simple assault after police say he had unlawful and inappropriate contact with a student on two occasions in May 2026.
Eliseo Perez, 35, of King George, Virginia, turned himself in to Fairfax County police on Wednesday and was held on a $4,000 bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, according to the department's press release. He had been employed by Fairfax County Public Schools since 2025, making 2025-26 his first year at Cooper.
School administrators at Cooper Middle School, located at 977 Balls Hill Road, were first notified of concerns about Perez's behavior on June 4. The school contacted the Fairfax County Police Department's Child Abuse Squad, which launched an investigation.
Perez was placed on administrative leave when the school learned of the allegations. Following his arrest, he was suspended without pay and removed from the school's staff directory.
Principal contacted families before arrest announcement
Cooper Middle School Principal Maureen McLoughlin sent a message to families of rising eighth and ninth graders on the evening of Tuesday, the night before police publicly announced the arrest.
In her July 21 letter, McLoughlin wrote: "It deeply affects us when someone appears to have broken that trust."
She encouraged families and students with concerns or additional information to use the FCPS anonymous tipline at fcps.edu/tipline or to contact Crime Solvers of Fairfax County.
Investigation is ongoing
FCPS said in a statement on Wednesday that the district takes all safety concerns seriously and responds promptly when concerns are raised by students, staff, or families.
Victim specialists from the Fairfax County Police Department's Victim Services Division have been assigned to support the student and connect them with resources. In Virginia, simple assault is a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
No court date has been publicly announced. The investigation remains ongoing as of Friday.
How to report information
Detectives are asking anyone with information about this case or similar incidents involving Perez to contact Fairfax County Crime Solvers:
- Phone: 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477)
- Online: crimesolversfairfax.org/submitatip
- App: P3 Tips (search "Fairfax Co Crime Solvers")
Anonymous tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.
