Bedford Man Arrested and Charged with Crimes Against Children

BEDFORD, VA – On Thursday, April 2, 2026, The Bedford Police Department received a complaint

regarding an inappropriate relationship involving a Liberty Middle School teacher and a juvenile.

Bedford County Child Protective Services, Bedford County Public Schools, and the Bedford County

Sheriff’s Office were notified and immediately took steps following their response protocol.

Subsequent investigation and legal process by the Bedford Police Department led to identifying the

involved adult as 40-year-old Dustin Wade of Bedford. On Thursday, April 9, 2026 BPD arrested and

charged Dustin Wade with the following offenses:

 2 counts - Use of communication systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children (§

18.2-374.3 Code of Virginia).

 1 count - Possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, and facilitation of child

pornography (§ 18.2-374.1:1 Code of Virginia).

 1 count - Causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent (§ 18.2-371 Code of

Virginia

The Bedford Police Department would like to thank the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S.

Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, Bedford County Public Schools and Bedford County Child

Protective Services for their assistance during this investigation.

The investigation is continuing. No further information will be released by BPD at this time. Anyone

with additional information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Bedford Police

Department at (540) 587-6011.