School Security Chief Sentenced For Sex With Student

ROCKVILLE, MD — The leader of the security team at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Mark Christopher Yantsos, was sentenced to 18 months in prison as part of a plea agreement for having sex with a 17-year-old student.

The 58-year-old married father admitted he engaged in the illegal relationship with a female student and plead guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor.

Yantsos, a former New York Police officer, was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years with all but 18 months suspended. He worked for Montgomery County Public Schools for about ten years.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Michael Mason said the victim will "require years of treatment" when she's ready, according to WTOP.

"Your position was to protect children from people like yourself," Mason told Yantsos.

On Monday, April 3, detectives were notified by school officials that an employee had engaged in an ongoing sexual relationship with a student at the Rockville high school.

The teen told investigators that she met Yantsos while she was a student at Richard Montgomery High School and while he worked as part of the school's security team. The victim said that Yantsos befriended her in 2016 and that he purchased multiple gifts for her after that. In March 2017, Yantsos reportedly bought the victim a phone in order to communicate with her during and after school hours.

See Related:

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• Richard Montgomery Security Chief Had Sex With 17-Year-Old Despite No Contact Order: Police

The victim told detectives that on the night of March 3, Yantsos picked her up at her home and drove her to a hotel in Rockville, where he engaged in inappropriate contact with her.

WTOP reported that he gave the teen gifts along with the iPhone 7, including a pair of Ugg boots, a North Face jacket, a ring, a diamond pendant and cash when she asked for it.

Yantsos was arrested Thursday, April 6 and then rearrested on Friday, May 5 after having several meetings with the teenager, according to police. He was accused of spending five hours with the teen on Thursday, May 4, during which he allegedly had sex with the girl.

Superintendent Jack Smith said, "any adult who abuses their position and takes advantage of our students has no place in our schools or community." In addition to Yantsos' role as security chief for the school, he served as the varsity basketball coach between 2012 and 2014.

Photo: MCPD