Crime/Court
Front Royal mayor poised for indictment on sexual solicitation charge
What might the mayor of Front Royal and the owner of the New England Patriots have in common? If you said criminal scrutiny involving massage parlors, you would be correct.
Court documents filed online Friday, April 12, 2019 indicate that Front Royal Mayor Hollis Tharpe is poised to be indicted for “solicitation of prostitution” by a Warren County grand jury on Monday, April 15.
The date of the alleged offense – case number CR19-000-290-00 – is May 31, 2018, and involves a visit to a local massage parlor.
Asked about the charge Saturday evening, April 13, Tharpe said, “It’s embarrassing – but it’s a baseless charge.”
Tharpe declined further comment pending conversations with an attorney. However, he said he did not foresee the charge impacting his service as mayor of Front Royal in the immediate future – “I am an elected official,” he pointed out.
When queried about a criminal investigation aimed his way revealed when Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney Brian Madden recused himself on August 30, 2018, from involvement in any potential prosecution of the Front Royal mayor, Tharpe expressed confusion.
“I can’t find anything out – no one has called; no one has threatened to take me to court. If someone would pick up the phone and call me, I could say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ – but I guess the system doesn’t work that way,” Tharpe lamented of the informational vacuum he was operating in.
“It’s just baffling – I’m absolutely clueless. I don’t do murder; I don’t write bad checks; I haven’t had any dealing with the EDA and Jennifer McDonald – I don’t have any loans with the EDA; I don’t shoplift; and I don’t do, I don’t mess with drugs – we know people who have lost kids to addiction,” Tharpe continued as he tried to fathom the nature of any potential criminal investigation into his behavior.
As of Friday, April 12, Tharpe now knows the nature of the charge against him – a charge he asserts is “baseless”. Winchester Commonwealth’s Attorney Marc Abrams was appointed by the court to replace Madden on the prosecutorial side were charges filed from the investigation into Front Royal’s mayor.
David Michael Smith (1960 – 2026)
Where Was Beth Macy?
Virginia Voters to Decide Marriage Amendment in November
Buying Local Can Strengthen Your Community — and Your Table
2 For 2 Foundation Promotes Swim Literacy for Homeschool Families
Weight-Loss Drugs May Help Protect Against Atrial Fibrillation
Warren County Volleyball Set to Host Fauquier Tuesday Night – September 8
Virginia Voters to Decide Reproductive Freedom Amendment in November
South Fork Fly Fishing Tournament Set for Sept. 12 at Shenandoah River State Park
Stone Branch Center for the Arts Welcomes Artist-in-Residence Linda L. Anderson
Amtrak to Suspend Virginia-to-D.C. Service for Critical Track Upgrades Oct. 16–26
Commentary: The Energy Virginia Needs is the Energy We Can Build Now
Labor Unions Are Growing, But Where Depends On State Politics
Phillip Ray Knight (1953 – 2026)
Governor Spanberger Believes Tariffs Are Taxes, Until Virginia Cattlemen Want Tariff Protection
Avtex Remembrance Walk: A Solemn Theme for Labor Day Weekend
Pitch Burst Volunteers Support Warren Coalition Children’s Programs
Never Forget: Front Royal Marks 25 Years Since 9/11 — A Time to Gather, Reflect and Pass It On
National Preparedness Month: How to Get Through a Multi-Day Power Outage
From Workers’ Parades to Backyard Cookouts: How Labor Day Began
Is It Too Late to Sign Up for the All About Trees Class This Year?
The Envelope That Decides Next Year
The Emergency Fund You’ll Actually Build
Stronger, Not Bigger: Rethinking Economic Development in Warren County
