The director general of the Saudi Academy dodged a legal bullet when he plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of ‘failure to report’ an allegation of child abuse. With his plea, the state agreed to drop the more serious charge of obstruction of justice. It appears, from this The Washington Post report, that the director general truly did not realize his obligation under the law. Ignorance is not much of an excuse, but it appeared to provide some mitigation.

Saudi School Director Admits Failing to Report Abuse
Tom Jackman

The director general of a controversial private Islamic school in Fairfax County has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failing to report child abuse and was fined $500.

Abdalla I.M. Al-Shabnan, head of the Islamic Saudi Academy on Route 1 in the Mount Vernon area, was arrested last month by Fairfax police after allegedly being informed of the possible sexual abuse of a 5-year-old student at the school. School authorities are required by law to report alleged child abuse within 72 hours.

Al-Shabnan was charged with misdemeanor counts of failing to report child abuse and obstruction of justice. In a plea agreement, Al-Shabnan pleaded guilty July 24 to the failure to report charge and Fairfax prosecutors agreed to dismiss the obstruction charge, according to court records.
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