Rape, Sexual Abuse Charges Pressed Against Anne Arundel County Teacher: Police

PASADENA, MD — An Anne Arundel County teacher was arrested on rape and assault charges, police announced Thursday.

Officers identified the suspect as 27-year-old Karl Houston Walls of Edgewater.

Walls has taught at Northeast High School in Pasadena since 2019, school officials confirmed.

Authorities said the investigation started this May.

Police said two students alleged that Walls had been sending sexually explicit text messages, photographs and videos. Walls is accused of soliciting child pornography from both victims and having sexual contact with them.

Officers said some of the acts and comments happened on school property.

In one of the incidents off school property, authorities said Walls held a knife against one of the victims and asked if he should "use it."

The Anne Arundel County Police Department said charges were filed in both cases on Wednesday. He is currently in custody at the county's central holding and processing facility.

Officers said Walls faces these charges in the first case:

• Second-degree rape
• Cause to ingest bodily fluids
• Perverted practice
• Sexual solicitation of a minor
• Sex abuse of a minor
• Fourth-degree sex offense - person of authority (Four counts)
• Second-degree assault (Three counts)

Authorities said he's up against these charges in the second case:

• Dangerous weapon with intent to injure
• Fourth-degree sex offense - person of authority
• Second-degree assault

Anne Arundel County Public Schools said it transferred Walls out of the classroom pending the outcome of this investigation.

"People who are prone to prey on children have no place anywhere near a school, much less in a classroom," AACPS spokesperson Bob Mosier told Patch. "We removed this teacher and reassigned him as quickly as we possibly could and ensured that he was in a position where he does not have contact with children. The school has been providing outlets for resources to the students and their families"

AACPS hired Walls as a Northeast teaching assistant in 2019. He was promoted to co-teacher for special education and science this past school year.

Police said there may be more victims who have not yet come forward.

Anybody with information can call the Child Abuse Unit at (410) 222-0306. Tipsters can stay anonymous by dialing (410) 222-4700.

Northeast High School is expecting to post a letter to families on its website. The letter was not yet posted when Patch published this story.