Virginia Firefighter Charged In Pornography Investigation

Elton Reha was released on bond last week and is to return to Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Oct. 27. A 19-year-old Round Hill volunteer is also under investigation, but has not been charged.

According to search warrants, Reha told investigators that it was the 19-year-old volunteer member who took the picture. The Loudoun Sheriff?s Office was alerted to the alleged crime by the juvenile?s mother in April, who told police that she found pictures on their computer of her daughter wearing only a firefighter?s jacket. A computer at the Round Hill station was confiscated and police stated in a search warrant that some of the "pornographic" photographs were found on the computer. Court records state that the pictures of the then-16-year-old girl were sent to other people. The volunteer has resigned from the department.

In response to the accusations, the Round Hill Volunteer Fire Company hired two defense attorneys to review their operating procedures and to strengthen any internal controls that could prevent such an event from occurring. The attorneys, Eric Strom and Mike Snyder, said their goal is to make sure the station has proper bylaws and operating procedures so that they can better manage their company.

Reha's arrest marks the third firefighter this year charged or under investigation for sexually related crimes.

A former Loudoun County firefighter David Munday pleaded no contest last month to two counts of exposing himself to a then-6-year-old girl. Munday?s wife operating a day care center and she left the child in his care when the incidents occurred in 1999. Munday, 34, is no longer employed by the county. Munday is to be sentenced Nov. 2 and faces a maximum of five years in prison.