Former UVA Cop Charged With Rape: Sean Michael Horn Faces Bond Hearing Today
Charlottesville, VA- Sean Michael Horn, 42, current Albemarle County reserve deputy and former police officer for the University of Virginia as well as the Albemarle Sheriffs Office was arrested last evening for rape. The arrest follows an extensive investigation conducted by the prosecutors office.
While there has been no specifics released, and it is the policy of www.blinkoncrime not to identify alleged victims of sexual crimes, we have learned that a complaint of rape against Horn was received in the Fall of 2011.
The arrest follows what can only be described as a series of chaotic incidents and events affecting Albemarle county law enforcement officers since 2009 at a minimum.
Following the death of 18 year old Greene County resident Colby Eppard on New Years Day 2010 by police gunfire, 7 Albemarle county officers were either suspended and/or demoted. Caleb Marden, a decorated sharp-shooter who served in Iraq was fired. Denise Lunsord, prosecutor for Albemarle county and North Garden resident, cleared all officers of any wrongdoing from the incident.
Eppard allegedly stole a neighboring Greene County patrol car and traveled almost 60 miles to Albemarle county. Although off duty Greene Sgt Randall Snead was out of his jurisdiction, Snead was among the officers in pursuit of Eppard and participated in the ambush to stop the teen. Snead’s former mentor and Sherriff, Willie Morris, committed suicide on January 28th.
Although he was on desk assignment pending the investigation of Eppard’s death, Snead responded to the scene of Morris’s home where he was located and rushed to the hospital. Morris was removed from life sustaining efforts without ever regaining consciousness. A suicide note blamed his tinnitus condition.
In a recent election, Steve Smith won the Sheriff slot running against Snead, and has since met with controversy after releasing nearly all of his staff. An email criticizing Smith was received by several news outlets from a previously fired Albemarle County Lt. Scott Cox, then a Greene county deputy who has since been released. Horn has Sheriff Smith listed as a friend on his facebook profile. Cox was among the Albemarle County Officers who was demoted after 18 years of service in the scandal.
Albemarle county is also the home of The Anchorage Farm, where murdered Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington was recovered after exhaustive searches of the areas surrounding the JPJ arena, UVA campus and private LE searches failed to locate her. Harrington disappeared from a Metallica concert at the John Paul Jones Arena on October 17, 2009 after being refused re-entry by security. DNA evidence has linked the Harrington case to a suspect in an unsolved rape in Fairfax, VA in 2005. Former lead detective now retired, Lt. Rader, has only indicated that forensic link means that Morgan came into contact with that individual prior to leaving Charlottesville.
Efforts to confirm whether Sean Horn was working the event as a UVA officer that evening have not been returned.
Corrine Geller, public information officer for the Virginia State Police, whose agency leads the probe into Morgan’s homicide responded to our inquiry as to whether or not Horn was a target of their continuing investigation this morning:
“The investigation remains ongoing at this time. I’m not able to comment on who our agents have or have not looked into during the course of their investigation.”
Horn lists Virginia Tech among his educational credentials on his facebook account, where Harrington was a junior at the time of her disappearance. It is not known if the two were acquainted.
Horn is being held in the Albemarle Regional jail pending his bond hearing today.
Check back to www.blinkoncrime.com for updates.
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Bail hearing is (or was) in Juvenile and Domestic Relations court in Albemarle County. So … Cannot get any info from online court case records.
From the Daily Progress:
“By: DAILY PROGRESS STAFF | The Daily Progress
Published: January 06, 2012
A former law enforcement officer and current reserve deputy with the Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office was arrested on a rape charge Thursday night, according to the Albemarle County Police Department.
Sean M. Horn, who has been employed by both the Albemarle County police and the University of Virginia Police Department, is currently being held at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, police said. During his time with the county police, Horn was stationed as a school resource officer at Burley Middle School, according to police and school officials.”
WOW
fits the profile to a T
RIP MORGAN
justice will be served
Will his DNA be entered into the database only when or if there is a conviction?
Our local news sites stated the hearing will be in J & D court. Doesn’t this mean that the accuser is either under-aged or has some type of a relationship with the man, either wife, domestic partner, or relative? One of the sites reports he was a one time school resource officer with the Albemarle County PD.
There are many who know the man who have commented that they do not believe the charges. Friends and family always proclaim innocence. I hope if he did not commit the crime, he will be clearly exonerated, but if he is guilty, the sentence should be as severe as the crime.
Must be convicted. Although, keep in mind, if he is a suspect and a probable cause warrant is issued, his DNA would be tested without one.
B
If I was him, and I’m glad I’m not, I would voluntarily give DNA. Wishful thinking I know.
The entire Daily Progress article is reprinted here:
http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com/2012/01/va-harding-weighs-in-on-officers-sean-m.html
It’s only fair to note that Albemarle County Sheriff J.E. “Chip” Harding is quoted in the article as saying that the rape charge was not related to Horn’s duties.
The article also notes that Horn was last employed by Albemarle County PD in Feb. 2010. Was sworn in as a reserve deputy in May 2011.
The article states that Horn has been a long time law enforcement officer. He also has an MBA, a high level of education.
Albemarle County Police Sgt. Dan Byers could not immediately provide a start date for Horn’s employment with ACPD.
Holy cow. I am so hopeful. My mind is spinning with possible scenerios!
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Way to stay on them, Blink. Hopefully locals will keep a laser on this group of azzklowns.
I’m just furious.
His DNA is taken automatically for this type of arrest in Virginia. As it has been investigated for a while, he will have likely given it voluntarily or under warrant during the investigation and it has already been tested. But, if not, it will be as a result of the arrest. It looks like a minor or a spouse/domestic partner issue from the court.
@word girl
I think it speaks volumes about what can be going on under everyone’s nose.
I’d like to know this guys whereabouts the night/morning of Oct 17-18 2009.
@redly. Your presumptions are a possibility but only that. However, under VA statute, his dna profile while it may be used in the instant case against him, It Cannot be entered into a database such as Codis for comparison without a conviction.
Unless there was or is a probable cause warrant issued specifically to this suspect in an additional criminal matter, his dna would not be tested against samples contained in evidence in any other case without permission or a warrant.
Good info on how the DNA is taken and when it can be entered into Codis.
In an article about Lt. Cox’s email we learn that Randall Snead was not reappointed by Sheriff Steve Smith.
“The email listed six deputies — Cox, Darrel Lawson, Jimmy Shifflett, Rudy Sprouse, Sean Sellari, John Haines and Randall Snead — who have all lost their positions. Snead ran against Smith in the race for sheriff.”
Also noted in this article, Albemarle County Sheriff Ed Robb said,
“Any sheriff would want deputies that are loyal to him, and the reason [is that] the Constitution of Virginia holds the sheriff responsible for the actions of his deputy. The sheriff can be liable for anything one of his deputies has done.”
I would like to know who he was employed by in Oct. of 2009 for obvious reasons. Which branch of LE was he working with ?
ALbemarle Police, was let go in February 2010. You know, right around the time of the mass disciplines. So, I have no idea what background Harding is referring to.
Just want to remind folks that even though it is clear ACPD was an absolute mess, there are credible and honorable officers that were a part of that PD at one time. I feel very bad for them.
B
I saw where your “efforts to confirm whether Sean Horn was working the event as a UVA officer that evening have not been returned.”
Well Blink … We all know how forthcoming UVA is with information … thinking about it is making me want to Blink 3 times & click my red shoes together 3 times hoping that Magically we will easily get the answer.
Okay – I am confused. After following Morgan’s case (and many others)here , I have a question. Didn’t the DNA from Morgan match up with a previous rape? And didn’t that DNA determine that it was an African American male? Thus, the drawing that was distributed of the “suspect” in this case.
A fellow with access to DNA of other crimes.. or did he. That is the question.
We definitely know there were police in the JPJ arena after the show -do we know if they were UVA, Cville or Albemarle?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPKG-Is7wx8&feature=related
At 1:24 it looks like a police officer walks into the left lower quadrant; a woman looks like Dee? with 4 boys walks past him and he does a double take.
Only UVA PD to my knowledge, can work security unless their is a situation that requires additional staff, in which case, Cville PD off duty can work the gig. By laws require cops only.
$5000 secured bond for SMH. Reporters cleared from courtroom. SMH apparently appeared via video conference.
http://www.nbc29.com/story/16463871/hearing-held-for-officer-accused-of-rape
Also, found this profile:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/sean-horn/32/7b7/577
This public profile of SMH mentions orthopedic trauma consultant, medical device sales, Fork Union Military Academy, and Liberty University.
UVAPD is not mentioned that I can see.
UVA PD is mentioned in the news link, not on the linked-in, I agree.
A challenge for y’all- what else is really wrong with that linked in profile?
B
Pammy – Sketch’s DNA was found on her shirt, and on Morgan…question is whether it could have been a plant. Also, more that one perp could be involved. Maybe Sketch was the helper. Maybe he wasn’t involved at all with Morgan and was set up. Another cop could maybe had access to that DNA, or knew who was responsible for that rape and obtained the DNA from that perp without his knowledge. Lots of scenerios.
first-time, your asessment about DNA found is incorrect, however, I have not and will not provide a correction as I feel strongly that is case sensitive information, so don’t feel bad.
What we do know as fact, is that their is a forensic link to Morgan’s case and a wanted suspect in a brutal rape and assault in Fairfax, VA in 2005.
B
Gosh, I’m anxious to know if he was working the night of the Metallica concert. To think what could have possibly happened is just sickening. God bless you Ms. Morgan. May justice come your way in this new year.
Sorry — forgot to mention that SMH accuser is an adult female family member, according to sources for NBC29 in Charlottesville.
SMH due back in Albemarle County J&D court on January 23.
diana h.
If it was this guy he may have had held for a cover up…in one way or anothee
wow is right.
On January 5, Albemarle County Police arrested one of their own, former County police officer Sean M. Horn, 42, who has been charged with an alleged Thanksgiving Day weekend rape in 2011, “accomplished through the use of the victim’s mental incapacity or physical helplessness,” according to an arrest warrant.
http://www.readthehook.com/102589/county-cop-arrested-rape-charges-media-blocked
B asked “what else is really wrong with that linked in profile?”
Well … besides not mentioning his UVA PD connection, he does not mention his time as a student at Virginia Tech, something you’ve said was found on his facebook page. Possibly two things that could potentially connect him to the Morgan Harrington case?
diana h.
diana h. says:
January 6, 2012 at 4:18 pm
$5000 secured bond for SMH. Reporters cleared from courtroom. SMH apparently appeared via video conference.
http://www.nbc29.com/story/16463871/hearing-held-for-officer-accused-of-rape
Also, found this profile:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/sean-horn/32/7b7/577
This public profile of SMH mentions orthopedic trauma consultant, medical device sales, Fork Union Military Academy, and Liberty University.
UVAPD is not mentioned that I can see.
UVA PD is mentioned in the news link, not on the linked-in, I agree.
A challenge for y’all- what else is really wrong with that linked in profile?
B
******************
Besides the 10 yr employment gap?
That and the fact he says he worked for Albemarle PD for 7 years and if you add up his excperience underneath, it does not match
Why do we think he is in a recent photo on the football field with UVA?
B
According to this article, appears the victim was incapacitated. Am wondering if she was given a drug?
http://www.readthehook.com/102589/county-cop-arrested-rape-charges-media-blocked
Also, the LinkedIn profile indicates he started his own company in Jan 2010, which coincides with discovery of MH’s body. Wonder when he left the employ of UVAPD, and under what circumstances?
Or took advantage of some sort of incapacity.
B
Because he was helping in his capacity as an ortho/tech/salesperson
I have to go back and re-read this whole dang thread. I could have sworn the dna was found with Morgan and on the shirt.
I mean the last thread
There appears to be a missing two years in the linked profile. He apparently went to school from the time he left his first LE job. Question is did he work at all for the time he was in school and what was he doing in the period of 2008 until 2010?
Did he by chance work for H & H or do part-time security for RMS? He obviously was able to keep his LE certification since he was a reserve deputy and with that he could qualify for either group.
This may be the rape of a minor or adult family member since it is in the family court.
We are perhaps up against the so called “blue wall of silence” or “brown wall” were LE do not “rat out” a fellow officer.
The elected Sheriff in Virginia may be required to rehire deputies at each election cycle as they are in Texas. This gives the sheriff the opportunity to clear out some of the questionable deputies and other personnel. However, Albemarle County has both a sheriff and a County PD that has a chief as a non-elected political apointee. This is a very strange LE arrangement to say the least.
Missed Blink’s year in review. Band practice till 9:00 P.M.
Could this be the break we need in Morgan’s case? I hope so.
ATG, the podcast is up of the radio show- not that I am scheduling your evening lol.
I am seeing a gap as Eloise pointed out from 2000-2010.
Among other things that I wont mention because they are subjective.
B
Bravo Blink!! Thank you for continuing to “Shine the Light” for Morgan”…right where it needs to be!
Glad “some” house cleaning occurred, but still too many unanswered questions, all the way around!
BTW, how is it that Ms Lunsford justified “clearing all of the officers of any wrong doing?” A year later, I still find that
very unsettling!
Sending my love and prayers to Dan and Gil,
Your girl WILL have JUSTICE! 2~4~1
Blink- As always- You are the best thing since sliced bread! Great job on staying on top of things. You never cease to amaze me.
Q- I tweaked this a bit, and responded to you personally earlier.
Amy Wicks-Horn – executive director of the Virginia Discovery Museum,
She will take over on January 3, 2011, leaving her current position as director of annual giving at the University of Virginia’s Children’s Hospital.
—————————————–
There are currently four pediatric residency training programs in Virginia; Inova Fairfax Hospital; Virginia Commonwealth University; Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters; and the University of Virginia. The Carilion Clinic-Virginia Tech Carilion Pediatric Residency will be smaller (six residents per year) and will focus on Community Pediatrics.
—————————————–
Just a few things I located. Unsettling to me actually.
I was going a completely different direction from your challenge Blink–as to SH’s Orthopedic Trauma Consultant experience. Since Morgan was said to have numerous broken bones–that was the first thing that popped into my mind. A guy with some really advanced orthopedic tools and what could be done with them. Not sure why my mind instantly ran that direction.
========================================
http://www.readthehook.com/68346/shattered-bones-harringtons-say-morgans-killer-violent-sadistic
“A monster walks among you,” Gil Harrington says, calling her daughter’s killer a “violent, sadistic and dangerous man.”
Although a medical examiner quickly ruled 20-year-old Morgan’s death a homicide after her body was discovered January 26, police have been silent in recent weeks and have released no further information on her cause of death.
However, her parents, both medical professionals, say signs of violence were obvious on their daughter’s remains, which were released from evidence and returned to them in February.
“He chooses to kill in a savage and brutal way,” says Gil Harrington, an oncology nurse, of her daughter’s killer, “to break her bones before he murdered her.” Dan Harrington, a psychiatrist, confirms that his daughter’s skeleton showed “brutal damage.”
While the Harringtons won’t say which of Morgan’s bones were broken–- and acknowledge that they do not yet know her actual cause of death, pending the release of the official autopsy report–- they remain convinced that the person responsible is an experienced criminal and may be a convicted sex offender.
“This is not his first crime,” Gil Harrington says. “He has upped his game in a significant and disturbing way.”
———————————————————–
From Blink’s comment to:
diana h. says:
January 6, 2012 at 4:18 pm
A challenge for y’all- what else is really wrong with that linked in profile?
B
Q-
I alerted him before I even posted. I shared your concerns when the research yielded that info. Right now, there is no known tie, and wife only took post this week. But yes, we thought the same.
For me, a bigger issue is what he was doing on the field. That is a high level of access.
B
twoforks says:
January 6, 2012 at 3:53 pm
We definitely know there were police in the JPJ arena after the show -do we know if they were UVA, Cville or Albemarle?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPKG-Is7wx8&feature=related
At 1:24 it looks like a police officer walks into the left lower quadrant; a woman looks like Dee? with 4 boys walks past him and he does a double take.
Only UVA PD to my knowledge, can work security unless their is a situation that requires additional staff, in which case, Cville PD off duty can work the gig. By laws require cops only.
B
***WOW Two Forks…thanks for pointing that out! As many times as I have watched these clips trying to determine if it was actually “Morgan”….I never spotted the police officer!
Nice to see you gifter3
B
Hey Zeus! I was right there with you, until Blink said,
“For me, a bigger issue is what he was doing on the field. That is a high level of access.
B
January 6, 2012 at 8:25 pm
I was going a completely different direction from your challenge Blink–as to SH’s Orthopedic Trauma Consultant experience. Since Morgan was said to have numerous broken bones–that was the first thing that popped into my mind. A guy with some really advanced orthopedic tools and what could be done with them. Not sure why my mind instantly ran that direction.
========================================
http://www.readthehook.com/68346/shattered-bones-harringtons-say-morgans-killer-violent-sadistic
**************
May Morgan have justice.
I am just going to sit and wait and see.
Thank you for all you do, Blink.
forensic evidence collector?
http://www.nbc29.com/story/16463871/hearing-held-for-officer-accused-of-rape
video report
http://www.readthehook.com/102589/county-cop-arrested-rape-charges-media-blocked
The Hook indicated that Horn received a degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg. It doesn’t mention whether or not he was attending classes on campus or if they were satellite/on-line courses.
For those of you not from the area, the Liberty University campus is located at the foot of Candler’s Mountain in where Cassandra Morton’s body was discovered.
This is all pure speculation on my part and I believe in due process, but all of this information certainly gets the wheels turning, particularly the part about the victim in the current case being impaired.
H and H Security Services in Charlottesville: I am fairly certain that one of the H’s in the moniker is for Rod Howard. Does anyone know who/what the other H is for?
It’s all on here.
B
ATTENTION BLINK
Blink not sure if you should post this Ill leave it up to your discretion.
First let me say good work Blink I certainly appreciated your walk back through the History.
I am dumbfounded and sick to my stomach-
I want to make sure to say that we do not know if this man is guilty of the charges brought against him, and he is innocent until proven otherwise.
If these allegations prove true… It says so much about what kind of people could be hiding in plain sight and working with children and in high levels as authority figures and “protectors”
Do you have this info regarding Sean?-
He owned/owns a frozen drink rental company with his wife-
snipped:
Tropical Paradise delivers the tropics to your event. We deliver frozen drink machines for your use at parties, church events, and school activities. We began Tropical Paradise in the summer of 2006 when we enjoyed Frozen Margaritas at a pool party. This is a no mess no fuss way to make your party a huge success. It is simple, no bartender is required and you can serve your guests restaurant style beverages for a fraction of the cost! Thanks for visiting our site!
made me think of concessions ect-
next according to a staff page of a school of employment -
Officer Sean Horn is a Charlottesville native, graduate of Fork Union Military Academy, and recent graduate of Liberty University with a BS in Psychology. He has been an Albemarle County Police Officer for 15 years. Before coming to Burley in 2002, he was assigned to traffic, day, evening and midnight patrols; although he enjoyed his time as a Motorcycle cop (ala CHIPS) he loves being a School Resource Officer. He shares his time between Jackson P. Burley and Murray High School. However, he is the Officer of contact for Sutherland, Hollymead, Baker-Butler, Stony Point, Stone-Robinson, Agnor-Hurt, and CATEC. Additionally, Officer Horn is working on his MBA at the University of Maryland. Officer Horn enjoys spending time with his family and golfing during his free time
and we also have this according to a legacy link:
Leta Faye Horn Leta Faye Horn of Lake Monticello died Thursday, August 21, 2008, at the Laurels Nursing Home in Charlottesville, Virginia. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Deray Horn; a daughter, Penny Horn; and a son, John Lawrence Horn. She is survived by her son, Michael Horn and his wife, Janice Morris-Horn of Charlottesville; grandsons, Mackenzie Horn, Christopher Horn, John Robert Horn, and Sean Horn (whom she raised from infancy) and his wife, Amy Wicks-Horn; Sean’s daughter…
http://tinyurl.com/88cyrkc
The family asks that in lieu of flowers that donations be made in honor of Tori in memory of Leta to the UVA Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 800773, Charlottesville, VA 22908.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailyprogress/obituary.aspx?n=leta-faye-horn&pid=116239369
and
http://tinyurl.com/7bk7oul
and
http://tinyurl.com/7lz7y3v
Lots of connections or so it would seem…
I do find it strange that he seems so welcomed and comfortable on the field, and is dressed as coaches ect are…makes we wonder if besides football, and golfing if he also likes other sports… and I did find the orthopedic trauma consultant/ medical devices tie in very interesting as well….
Again Blink thanks for all your hard work and I would like to commend the young lady for coming forward- my prayers go out to her and to the rest of the family and community as well.
AJMO
We do Mom 3.0, but that is excellent research on your part. As you saw for yourself, there is much worthy of exploration, but Mr. Horn is presumed innocent and entitled to due process of course.
I do not know if this man will net a connection to what happened to Morgan, but I am damn sure it is exactly the question on everyone’s minds.
B
Attention Blink- not sure if you want to post
both Sean and his exwife? were UVA graduates and Amy was employed by UVA Hospital worked with charities now with childrens museum perhaps it was her connections that helped Sean secure a place on the field? and also helped him along… although according to the obit…his family had ties to the Hospital before that…
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Virginia_Discovery_Museum_Names_New_Executive_Director_111117774.html
and
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/amy-wicks-horn/14/B1B/386
and
http://www.news.clas.virginia.edu/pulse/x15412.xml
and
http://www.mstand.com/publications/view/50700/AlbemarleFamily-January-2012
AJMO hope this info helps
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Albemarle__136783963.html
*UPDATE: Sheriff Decommissions Reserve Deputy Charged with Rape*
In a letter to staff, Albemarle County Sheriff Chip Harding said Horn is “not in a position to continue as a reserve deputy”.
He contacted the Clerk of the Circuit Court Friday morning to have Horn decommissioned, but did leave his return to the reserve division open pending the outcome of the criminal case. He was decommissioned Friday morning.
“This was a surprise to all of us. We’re going to just wait and see and let it play itself out in the courtroom,”
Sheriff Harding told CBS19.
Caucasian, dark hair, connections to LE on all the relevant locations.
Also very hopeful to read that there is no room for secrecy when its ‘ one of their own’ . How far does it go, did he have a friends in the dpt. with the same background and interests etc. etc.
I agree no room for much speculation until there is some more information but i think everyone agrees he fits the kinda person we suspected (authority, maybe security/LE, local etc). Is there a link to sketch. so many questions.
However this turns out it proves yet again that even among those who are paid to protect the public there are exceptions, the ones that harm. I am very glad there is no protection for them gives me hope finally Morgan s murder will be solved!
on the linked profile it says ‘forensic evidence collection’. Seems he had access to evidence. Also served as a Senior police official so were talking about someone fully on the inside of law protection and enforcement.
Also ‘ aftercare’ for victims. I shudder at the thought.
I agree with first-time about the DNA but blink says it aint so. Which leads me to think dna was only found on the tshirt further indicating a plant (sorry for speculation on case sensitive data) disclaimer imho etc. coudlnt resist speculating.
For all this ‘slanderous speculation’ we did it seems the facts are often worse sadly. Is there a protection or smokescreen detectable? It may lead to further clues to see where that obstruction stems from.
Good work all we will see justice done
I certainly hope that this is the break the Harrington family and so many others have been waiting for. Fingers Crossed.
Holy shit!!
My gut is telling me that he is linked to Morgan. Could Lady Justice finally be pulling into the station!!!
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