UPDATE: On July 6, 2023, the case against Daniel Landis was nolle prosequi, or withdrawn.
Previous coverage:
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — An 81-year-old Newport News man is accused of sexually assaulting a child nearly three decades ago.
Daniel Landis faces charges of indecent liberties with a child and aggravated sexual battery, Newport News police announced Tuesday. His arrest comes months after the alleged assault was first reported to police back on August 23, 2022.
According to court documents, the victim said he was 15 years old at the time of the abuse. He says Landis was the choirmaster at Saint Paul Episcopal Church in Suffolk at the time, and he considered Landis a mentor.
The victim said on one night in April 1994, Landis invited him over for a dinner party and served him alcohol. The victim got drunk and when everyone else at the party left for the evening, That’s when Landis took the victim to an upstairs bedroom and assaulted him, court documents show.
The victim said he blacked out twice during the assault, and that Landis drove him home afterward as though nothing happened.
WAVY’s looking to find out more about Landis’ past, including his work history, as court documents show he’s a retired school teacher. Police say he has no prior criminal record, and is unmarried without children.
The case is still under active investigation by police and anyone with information on Landis is asked to call 757–247–2500.