By Heather Michon
Correspondent
A Scottsville man arrested in late June on charges of aggravated sexual battery and indecent liberties with a child under 13 was denied bond in Fluvanna County Circuit Court on Friday (July 11), despite being granted bond in a similar case in Albemarle County this spring.
Brett Larose surrendered himself to the Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office following his indictment in late June. He has been held at the Central Virginia Regional Jail since June 26.
Attorney Scott Goodman presented multiple witnesses who attested to Larose’s good character.
His employer, Scottie Tate, said that over the past 20 years, Larose had gone from “a good friend to a brother.” He told Circuit Court Judge David Barredo that Larose was a vital part of his business and could live with him if he were released on bond.
“I need him back,” said Tate.
Larose’s current romantic partner said she had known him for several years and described him as a thoughtful person who believed in the power of positive thinking. During their time together, she said he had shown “no interest in children whatsoever.”
A former girlfriend began to cry during her testimony, saying, “My heart and soul say this is not him.”
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Amanda Galloway presented a different picture of Larose. Both the Fluvanna and Albemarle cases involve the very young daughters of his then-girlfriends. The Albemarle offenses allegedly took place in 2016, and the Fluvanna case in 2020.
Larose was originally charged in 2021, but Galloway said the victim’s family was facing some difficulties and the case was not pursued at that time. The Albemarle charges were revived in April 2025, and the Fluvanna charges in June.
Since his arrest was announced, Galloway said her office had been contacted by a Fluvanna woman who said her relationship with Larose had been abusive. Her allegations are being investigated, and he is likely to face additional charges.
Goodman said he was unaware of the potential new charges, but argued the women in both cases knew each other and had made the allegations in 2021 because they were “upset because he left each relationship.”
Larose was “never, ever, ever alone” with the children, and he “has no contact with these people and hasn’t for years,” he added.
The Albemarle judge had been “floored” by the way he had been “yanked out of his life” on these old charges, Goodman said.
Judge Barredo acknowledged that “these offense dates have some age on them,” and that Larose was not a flight risk.
However, between the nature of the accusations and the potential for new charges, he did believe Larose posed a potential danger to the community, and denied bond.
Larose is scheduled to return to court on August 25.
