Former Aberdeen MS Principal, School Staffer Arrested After Failing To Report Girl's Rape

ABERDEEN, MD — The former principal of Aberdeen Middle School and a paraeducator have been arrested and charged with failure to report child abuse/neglect after a student told them she had been raped.

School employees are mandatory reporters by state law and required to report child abuse or neglect as soon as possible and does not require proof to initiate a report, according to Aberdeen Police.

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

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.

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 have pending court dates.

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.