Teacher Accused Of Sex Offense Against Student In Anne Arundel County: Police

FORT MEADE, MD — A teacher was arrested Monday and accused of sexually touching a student at an Anne Arundel County school, police said.

Officers identified the suspect as Manuel Navarro-Montero, a Spanish teacher at Meade High School. The 43-year-old is from Bowie.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department said it first heard the sex offense allegation on Jan. 26.

The female victim alleged that the male teacher touched her "private and intimate areas" over and under her clothing while in the school building, a press release said.

The victim filed a report, and officers said they launched an investigation.

Bob Mosier, a spokesperson for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, said administrators immediately removed the teacher from his post in the school. AACPS reassigned him elsewhere and continued employing him.

"Our school system removed this teacher from his assignment on the day we became aware of the allegation and placed him in a position in which he has had no contact with students," Mosier told Patch in an email.

Detectives said they applied for and received charges last Wednesday.

The Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office said it arrested Navarro on Monday.

The police department said it charged Navarro with:

• 3rd Degree Sex Offense
• 4th Degree Sex Offense
• 4th Degree Sex Offense - Position of Authority
• 2nd Degree Assault

"The placing of these charges means that we will now begin the process of suspending him without pay as we await the completion of the criminal proceedings," Mosier said. "Those who would prey on children have no place in any school anywhere."

Mosier said Navarro has worked for AACPS since August 2018 and has taught at Meade High the entire time.

Meade High Principal Ryan Durr sent a letter to families Monday notifying them of the arrest.

"It is important for you to understand that Mr. Navarro was reassigned from his position as a teacher by our school system in January on the day we received the initial allegation," Durr said in the letter. "We have been working with police since that time and have also been supporting the student in this case."

Students can contact any staff member for support resources.

Tipsters can report their school safety concerns by anonymously calling the Safe Schools Maryland Tip Line at 833-MD-B-SAFE (833-632-7233). That line is available 24/7.

Durr's full letter is posted here.

Detectives asked anybody with information on this or other potential cases to call the anonymous police line at (410) 222-4700.