Trial of former Prince George school administrator accused of child sex crimes to move to Suffolk

PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The trial of a former Prince George County school administrator accused of child sex crimes will now take place in Suffolk, the Commonwealth's Attorney confirmed.

According to Susan Fierro, the Prince George County Commonwealth's Attorney, the trial for now 79-year-old William Barnes Jr., which was initially scheduled to begin on March 16, will now take place on March 23 at Suffolk Circuit Court.

The jury trial dates of March 16 to March 18 have been removed from the docket due to the change in venue, per Fierro.

Barnes, who served as an assistant superintendent, guidance counselor, teacher and coach in Prince George schools, was first arrested on nine charges in July 2024 for alleged abuse that occurred in 1985 and 1986, when the child was 14 years old.

His trial began on Jan. 5, with an extensive jury selection. While he was originally facing nine charges when the trial began, the jury ended up deliberating over six charges, including sexual battery, indecent acts with a child and forced sodomy, after some charges were dismissed.

Several days of testimony from 12 witnesses took place. Witnesses included the accuser, a forensic psychologist, another individual alleging abuse from Barnes, the accuser’s estranged spouse and both of the accuser’s adult children.

The jury on Jan. 8 could not come to a unanimous decision regarding any of the charges Barnes faced, ultimately declaring a mistrial.

Barnes is facing two other charges for separate child abuse cases, which are set for later this year. However, these dates could now be pushed depending on the retrial.