Sex charges dropped against Prince George supervisor

COLONIAL HEIGHTS -- Misdemeanor sexual battery and indecent exposure charges were dropped today against Prince George County Supervisor G. Reid Foster Jr. at the urging of a Colonial Heights prosecutor.

General District Court Judge Thomas L. Vaughn withdrew both counts on a motion by Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Hunter Fisher, who said there was insufficient evidence to proceed.

She told the court that there were "credibility problems" with the alleged victim, an 18-year-old woman.

"He absolutely committed no crimes," defense attorney Ray Lupold III said of Foster. "I don't know why the charges were ever brought . . . which can ruin his career and his family life."

Foster, 51, was arrested Oct. 17 after the alleged victim claimed that Foster had exposed himself to her in Colonial Heights between Sept. 1 and Oct. 2, police said.

"I'm glad this is over," said Foster, who is married with children. "I have a family to put back together."

Foster is serving his third term as a member of the Prince George Board of Supervisors. He was in his second term and serving as the board's vice chairman when he was defeated in 2003. He ran successfully again last year.

He has been employed with the Colonial Heights Fire Department since July 1 as a firefighter and emergency medical technician. He has volunteered with Prince George's all-volunteer Fire Co. 1 for more than 30 years and in the mid-1990s served as county fire chief.