Child Sex Abuse Claims, Offensive Posts Draw Calls For Drop Out Of School Board Race

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Teachers and Democrats are calling for an Anne Arundel County school board candidate to drop out of the race amid reports that he was once charged with child sexual abuse and used demeaning language.

The Baltimore Banner reported Tuesday that Charles "Chuck" Yocum, now 61, was charged with sexually abusing a minor in 1993. The Pasadena resident and current District 3 candidate was found not guilty in 1994, The Banner said, noting that the alleged victims still stick by their stories.

The Banner said Yocum was "removed from his teaching position at Northeast High School," and an investigation found more claims that he "sexually harassed or made inappropriate comments to students as young as 13."

The Baltimore Sun reported that Yocum was fired in August 1994 after employee discipline investigators recommended that Anne Arundel County Public Schools charge him with professional misconduct. The Banner said Yocum then "struck a deal with the school system behind closed doors" and "worked in administrative positions until he retired this summer."

The Maryland Democratic Party accused Yocum of using the words "b-tch," "sl-t" and "wh-re" on a conservative Facebook page.

"The evidence of Mr. Yocum’s pattern of abusive conduct is overwhelming and deeply disturbing," Maryland Democratic Party Spokesperson Luca Amayo said in a Wednesday press release. "Mr. Yocum has proven himself to be unfit for any public office – let alone one in a position of authority over children. We call on him to immediately withdraw from the race for school board in Anne Arundel County."

Yocum also used the word "r-tard," the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County and the Parental Alliance for Student Safety alleged.

"Let us be clear: these comments were not accidental slip ups," TAAAC and PASS said in a Sept. 19 joint statement endorsing Yocum's opponent, Erica McFarland. "They represent a long history that shows voters exactly who Chuck Yocum is. Do District 3 residents really want to elect someone to our school board who insults teachers, demeans women, and denigrates students with disabilities? His words actively undermine our school district’s values of respect and inclusivity."

Democrats calling for Yocum to drop out include Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, District 30 State Sen. Sarah Elfreth, District 33 State Sen. Dawn Gile and District 2 County Council Member Allison Pickard.

"The Party also calls on the other Anne Arundel School Board candidates who have campaigned closely with Mr. Yocum, LaToya Nkongolo and Dawn Pulliam, to join us in calling for his withdrawal from the race," the Maryland Democratic Party said in its press release. "Anything short of that condones this behavior."

AACPS confirmed that Yocum retired this July 1. His AACPS work history is as follows:

• 1988-1993: Special Education Teacher, Northeast High School (assigned to Northeast High School)
• 1993-1998: Special Education Teacher (assigned to Human Resources, Division of Special Education, and Program Planning)
• 1998-2012: Specialist, Student Demographic Planning (assigned to Program Planning and Planning, Construction, and Design)
• 2012-2014: Manager of Service Learning (assigned to Advanced Studies and Programs)
• 2014-2024: Senior Manager, Business and Community Development (assigned to Partnerships Development and Marketing)

"Any discussion of Mr. Yocum’s remaining in or exiting the classroom would involve disclosing information that would be contained in a personnel record, which AACPS is prohibited from doing," school system spokesperson Bob Mosier told Patch in a Thursday email. "The qualification to serve as a member of the Board of Education (and to continue service once elected) is subject to the laws of the state of Maryland as well as the policies of the Board of Education, which are promulgated on the website of the Anne Arundel County Board of Elections."

Patch requested comments from Yocum, the state and county Republican Party organizations, Nkongolo and Pulliam. None have responded. We will update this story if they reply.

Yocum did, however, tell The Banner he didn't use "r-tard" as a derogatory way to describe a person with a disability. He said it has multiple definitions.

A post reviewed by The Banner read "CNN was on full r-tard mode with their opinion piece."

"People should vote for me because of my 36 years within public education," Yocum told The Banner. "I understand the needs of the parents and support their right to be involved in their student’s education."

Read The Banner's story to learn more about the allegations against Yocum.