Former Star reporter arrested

WINCHESTER -- A former reporter for The Winchester Star remains jailed on charges of using the Internet to try to solicit sex from a minor.

Andrew Houff, 45, of 455 N. Loudoun St., Winchester, is being held without bond at Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center on two counts each of attempting to take indecent liberties with children and using a communications system to facilitate certain offenses involving children, according to a news release issued by the Stafford County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities have accused Houff of engaging in sexually explicit conversations online with a person he thought was a 14-year-old girl beginning March 3, the release states.

Detective Darryl Wells, of the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, said Wednesday that he posed as the girl for the investigation.

"On numerous occasions ... Houff engaged in sexually explicit conversations and expressed a desire to participate in various sexual acts with the 14 year old minor," the release states.

Houff worked for the newspaper from September 1998 to February 2010, according to a published report on the Star's website.

Managing Editor Maria Hileman confirmed Houff's time of employment with the Star but said the paper would have no other comment.

Virginia State Police Special Agent John Defilipi arrested Houff at his home at about noon, Wells said.

"I was talking to him online when they got to the front door," Wells said. "I understand that he was very cooperative and very docile."

Defilipi obtained and executed a warrant to search Houff's residence at Wells' request, the detective said.

No search warrant for the home had been filed in the Winchester Circuit Court by the close of business Wednesday.

Wells obtained the warrant for Houff's arrest, he said.

Houff is awaiting transfer to the Rappahannock Regional Jail in Stafford County, the release states.

Members of the state police, the Winchester Police Department, the Frederick County Sheriff's Office and the Northern Virginia Crimes Against Children Task Force assisted in the case, according to the release.

Frederick County Maj. Robert "Robbie" Eckman said agents working with the Internet Crimes Against Children unit were involved in the investigation, but he did provide details nor say for how long.