VIRGINIA BEACH (WAVY) – The attorney for former Virginia Beach police officer Sean Fearon, who was acquitted Thursday on charges of sexual assault and abduction, says the investigation was mishandled by the department.

The specific charges of object sexual penetration and abduction with intent to defile can carry prison terms up to life in prison.

“The Virginia Beach Police Department went hard after one of their own officers, and I disagreed with that,” defense attorney Kristin Paulding said outside the courthouse following the not guilty verdict. “They came after him with guns blazing and yet I hoped that I showed that their investigation was inadequate.”

Fearon was accused by a 19-year-old woman who had been involved in a June 2024 traffic accident on Independence Blvd.

A day later, the lead investigator interviewed the woman. He testified during this week’s four-day trial. Paulding asked him about an exchange during the interview:

Investigator: “Did you touch (Fearon) in any way sexually?”
Woman: “I told you I did.”
Investigator: “You grabbed his crotch?”
Woman: “To leave me alone, because he wouldn’t get out of my car.”

Paulding then quizzed the investigator on the stand. “How was that supposed to work – touching someone sexually to get them to leave your car? Did you ask any follow up questions?” she said. He replied no, and didn’t follow up on details of her claim that Fearon had sexually assaulted her.

Paulding: “Did you refer her for a rape kit?”
Investigator: “No.”

Paulding and Fearon himself both say he made bad decisions during the nearly two hours Fearon was with the 19-year-old driver. He shut off his body cam for extended periods.
He didn’t conduct a thorough DUI investigation, despite admitting he knew she’d been drinking.
He admitted to sexual contact with the woman – even if the jury found that it wasn’t criminal.

Fearon, knowing he would have gotten fired as an officer, resigned. But his attorney says the case was overblown from the beginning.

“I think that this investigation was not good and should not have resulted in these charges, but I think we do have to hold officers to a higher standard,” Paulding said.

Virginia Beach Police responded to the criticism with this statement to WAVY Friday afternoon:

“The Virginia Beach Police Department received a complaint alleging criminal law violations by one of our former officers. We have an obligation to this community to investigate when complaints are made against our personnel.  Our detectives conducted a thorough and impartial investigation into these accusations and presented the facts to the Chesapeake Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney (OCA), instead of the Virginia Beach OCA, to avoid a conflict of interest.  Their office reviewed the investigation and concurred there was probable cause to move forward with charges which were ultimately certified by an impartial grand jury.”