The 944-Record Admission: Loudoun Executives Hold Collusion Evidence for $376 Ransom #LCPS #LCSO #LoudounCountyVA #LoudounCountyGovernment #LoudounCountyCourt
The 944-Record Admission: Loudoun Executives Hold Collusion Evidence for $376 Ransom
Published: February 2, 2026
The "Information Blackout" in Loudoun County just got a price tag: $376.80.
Today, in a stunning response to my VFOIA request targeting high-level coordination between LCPS Executives and private legal firm Troxell Leigh P.C., FOIA Officer Dan Adams confirmed the existence of 944 responsive records.
For months, the District has attempted to "manage" my investigation as a nuisance. Today, they inadvertently quantified the scale of the collusion.
The "Tripartite" Scale We now know there are nearly 1,000 communications between private attorneys Lindsay Mohler/Gareth Bowen and the highest levels of LCPS leadership, including:
Superintendent Aaron Spence
Gus Martinez
Shontel Simon
Paige Carter, et al.
This isn't just a few emails; this is a high-volume, coordinated strategy involving the Superintendent’s office and private third-party counsel.
The Pay-to-Play Barrier Immediately after identifying this massive trove of evidence, LCPS hit the brakes. They are now demanding a $376.80 "ransom" to review and release these documents, while simultaneously ignoring my standing as an investigative publisher entitled to fee waivers.
The timing is not a coincidence. This punitive fee was issued almost immediately after I served the Superintendent with a Formal Notice of Liability regarding the administrative fraud of Seneca Ridge Principal Nick Cottone.
The Narrative of Obstruction By demanding over $200, LCPS is utilizing a statutory loophole to halt the clock on their disclosure requirements. They are betting that a parent and whistleblower can be financially exhausted before the truth comes out.
They are wrong. I have already notified the Virginia FOIA Council (Case #23) that this fee is a retaliatory barrier. If the records were "previously addressed" or "privileged," they wouldn't have found 944 of them. They are hiding a mountain of evidence behind a paywall.
The evidence exists. They’ve admitted it. Now we just have to tear down the wall.
Email Chain from Dan Adams LCPS FOIA Officer
RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of January 25, 2026, Reference # R002480-012526
Dear Steven Rubis,
Loudoun County Public Schools received a public information request from you on January 25, 2026 for the following:
“TO: Dan Adams (Acting Public Information Officer / VFOIA Officer)
DATE: January 25, 2026
RE: VFOIA Request – Private Legal Coordination and Executive Correspondence
Request Text: Pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Va. Code § 2.2-3700 et seq.), I request copies of any and all correspondence (including but not limited to emails, text messages, and internal memos) between the following parties for the period of January 1, 2023, to the present:
External Parties:
Lindsay Mohler (lmohler@tllawpc.com)
Gareth Bowen (gbowen@tllawpc.com)
General domain: @tllawpc.com
Internal LCPS Parties:
Executive/Legal: Dr. Aaron Spence, Shontel Simon, Rae Mitchell, Paige Carter, Gus Martinez.
Administrative/School: Dr. Kate Ridgeway, Nick Cottone, John Brewer, Andrew Davis.
Investigative/Oversight: Devina Martin, Ashley Stocks, Lisa Boland, Tedra Richardson, the LCPS School Board (lcsb@lcps.org), and the LCPS Ombudsman.
Keywords/Search Terms: This search should include, but not be limited to, the names "Steven Rubis," "Timothy Iversen," and references to "Seneca Ridge Middle School," "Lowes Island Elementary," or "incident report/workforce complaint."
Request for Fee Waiver: As an investigative publisher (nickcottone.blogspot.com), these records are requested in the public interest to document the intersection of private legal entities and public school administration. I request a waiver of all fees; should fees exceed $25.00, please provide an itemized estimate before proceeding.”
We have determined that complying with your request will result in the imposition of a charge that exceeds $200. Therefore, we are providing you with this cost estimate as required by Virginia Code 2.2-3704. In order to comply with your request as written, we estimate that it will cost $376.80. This is based on an estimated 16 hours of clerical time to compile and review 944 potentially responsive records to your request.
I will need to know how you would like to proceed with your request. You may narrow the scope of your request or provide more specific information to potentially lower the cost.
Please respond in writing using one of the following methods so that there is a record of your response:
1. Online via the LCPS Records Center;
2. via regular mail to Dan Adams - LCPS FOIA Officer, FOIA Officer, 21000 Education Court, Suite 210, Ashburn, VA 20148; or
3. in person at the Public Information Office, 21000 Education Court, Suite 210 Ashburn, VA 20148.
Your request will be considered inactive if you do not notify us in writing within 30 days from the date of this letter that you:
(a) accept the charges; OR
(b) wish to modify your request; OR
(c) wish to withdraw your request.
You may pay for the records by:
1. Sending a check made out to County of Loudoun via regular mail to Dan Adams - LCPS FOIA Officer, 21000 Education Court, Suite 210, Ashburn, VA 20148; or
2. in person at the Public Information Office, 21000 Education Court, Suite 210, Ashburn, VA 20148.
If you have any questions I can be reached at (571)252-1040 or LCPSFOIA@lcps.org. Thank you for your patience in awaiting this information.
Sincerely,
Dan Adams
FOIA Officer
Loudoun County Public Schools
#NickCottone #SMRS #SenecaRidgeMiddleSchool #LCPS #LoudounCountyPublicSchools #LoudounCounty #AaronSpence #LoudounCountySchoolBoard #TitleIX #retaliation #LindsayMohler #TroxelLeigh
#LCPS #LoudounCountyPublicSchools #NickCottone #SenecaRidgeMiddleSchool #SMRS #LowesIslandElementarySchool #LIES #DominionHighSchool #DHS #AaronSpence #LoudounCounty #TroxelLeigh #LindsayMohler #GarethBowen #JohnWhitbeck #whitbeckbeglis #whitbeckbennett
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