Fairfax man denies sex with girl, 14

BY KEITH EPPS

A Fairfax County man’s claim that he didn’t have sexual contact with a 14-year-old Stafford girl was strongly contradicted Tuesday by DNA evidence.

Muhammad Qayyum, 22, is charged with rape, sodomy and three other charges in connection with a May 15, 2011, incident in Stafford County. His jury trial started yesterday in Stafford Circuit Court, and he is facing the possibility of life in prison.

Besides the girl’s testimony, the key evidence presented by prosecutors Caleb Frigerio and Sandra Park was testimony from forensic scientist Theresa Francis, who said DNA recovered from the girl after the incident undoubtedly belonged to Qayyum.

According to the evidence, the victim and a 14-year-old girl from Northern Virginia were alone at the victim’s home in the Brooke area that day when the other girl decided to call a man she knew in Alexandria.

The girl and the man, 22-year-old Charlie Bravo, had had prior sexual relations. She invited Bravo to Stafford, and Bravo came after getting a ride from Qayyum.

After drinking some alcohol, the victim testified, Bravo and the other girl had consensual relations. The victim said that Qayyum then forced her onto a couch, where he raped and sodomized her.

The girl said she eventually broke away from Qayyum and locked herself in a bathroom until after the men left. She said her friend asked her not to tell her mother what had happened, but the girl told anyway and was taken to Mary Washington Hospital for testing.

Evidence was recovered from the girl, but Qayyum wasn’t identified and found until Sept. 8, when Stafford Detective Tim Covington and a Fairfax detective found him near his Falls Church residence.

Covington said that when he asked Qayyum about the Stafford incident he replied, “Oh yeah, that,” but denied any sexual contact with either girl. Covington said he made an appointment for Qayyum to come talk to him in Stafford but he didn’t show up. Covington got warrants for his arrest, and Qayyum was taken into custody several days later.

The prosecution is expected to rest its case this morning.

 Bravo is charged in Stafford with taking indecent liberties with a minor, court records show, but a trial date has not yet been set.

Keith Epps:  540/374-5404

kepps@freelancestar.com

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