Charges Dropped Against HCPS Educators Who Failed To Report MS Student's Sexual Abuse

ABERDEN, MD — Charges have been dropped against two school employees who were facing two misdemeanor counts of neglecting to report child abuse after a student at Aberdeen Middle School reported being raped in April 2023

On April 18, 2023, Aberdeen Police were contacted by a local hospital about a rape involving a juvenile victim. An investigation showed the rape had happened April 12, 2023, and the victim had reported it to Aberdeen Middle School faculty the next day on April 13, 2023, Patch previously reported.

Detectives investigated the incident and learned that the former principal of AMS, Regina Jones, 44, and Tanya Johnson, 56, a paraeducator, knew about the rape April 13, 2023, after the victim confided in school officials about the rape. As mandated reporters, the two school employees did not report the rape to police or Child Protective Services, Aberdeen Police stated.

After detectives wrapped up their investigation, they submitted their findings to the Harford County State's Attorney's Office for a formal review of the case. On July 16, Jones and Johnson were criminally indicted and warrants were issued for their arrests. Jones was arrested and released July 26 and Johnson was arrested and released Aug. 1. Both were indicted in September 2024.

According to Maryland Law, a mandatory reporter who doesn't disclose information about an incident as required by law can be found guilty of a misdemeanor and face prison time not exceeding three years and/or a fine not exceeding $10,000.

However, the Harford County State's Attorney's Office says they were forced to drop the case due to an apparent loophole in Maryland law.

"The statute defining abuse and sexual abuse only requires reporting when the reported abuser is a parent, household or family member, or someone who has care and custody of the victim. In this case, because the rape was committed by another juvenile, the facts do not support conviction, and the matters were dismissed. It is unfortunate that the legislature chose not to include this type of case in mandatory reporting and the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office will be a strong advocate in supporting the expansion of this statute to ensure that children are protected regardless of who their abuser might be," the prosecutors told WMAR.

Detectives have charged a 17-year-old with the student's rape, the Aberdeen Police Department stated in a news release Sept. 24.

Neither former school employee is still employed by HCPS.