Fairfax County Police Sergeant Arrested on Sexual Battery Charges

State of VA - A Fairfax County Police Department sergeant is facing serious criminal charges after being arrested in the early morning hours of April 18, 2026.

Sergeant Matthew Sylvester, 40, of Warrenton, Virginia, was taken into custody by the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office at approximately 1 a.m. He was charged with two counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery for an incident that occurred while he was off duty.

Sylvester has been with the Fairfax County Police Department for 16 years. At the time of his arrest, he was assigned to the department's Internal Affairs Bureau, the unit responsible for investigating misconduct by fellow officers.

According to authorities, both victims are known to Sylvester. No additional details about the incident have been released at this time.

Following his arrest, Sylvester was placed on administrative leave. A criminal investigation and a separate internal administrative investigation are both currently underway.

The Fairfax County Police Department has not issued a public statement beyond confirming the arrest and the placement of administrative leave.

Aggravated Sexual Battery is a felony charge in Virginia. A conviction can carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years, depending on the circumstances of the case.

The outcome of both the criminal case and the internal investigation remains pending. No trial date has been announced.

This is a developing story. As more information becomes available, we will continue to provide updates.

Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.