Nine More MCPS Students Say Former Teacher Abused Them at School (VIDEO)

“There is more that we can do.”

That was the comment made by MCPS Superintendent Joshua P. Starr in a YouTube video he made following a Montgomery County Police press conference about the sexual abuse allegations against one of the school system’s former substitute teachers. Police announced that nine other students reported abuses by the former teacher. You can watch Starr’s video here.

“As a superintendent, an educator, and the father of three students in our schools, my top priority is the health and well-being of our students. This includes ensuring that any allegation or suspicion of child abuse is handled appropriately and thoroughly,” he said.

Police are investigating why the 2004 allegation of abuse by Jose Pineda on a student allegedly reported to the school prinicipal at Forest Oak Middle School was never reported to police.

Jose Pineda
PHOTO | Montgomery County Police

According to information released in that police press conference, in early October, detectives from the Special Victims Investigations Division began investigating the report that Pineda of Gaithersburg, in his role as a MCPS substitute teacher, inappropriately touched a female student at Roberto Clemente Middle School in September of 2014. On October 14, Pineda was charged with one count of third degree sex offense and one count of sex abuse of a minor, according to police.

Since that time, three more female student victims have come forward to police. On Nov. 19, Pineda was charged with three additional counts of third degree sex offense and three counts of sex abuse of a minor. One of the allegations dates back to 2004.

Nine other female students have come forward to detectives and reported that Pineda touched them during the school day, according to police, however Capt. Paul Starks said none of those nice acts rise to the level of criminal violations. He did say they have helped to forward the investigation.

Here are details about the investigation as released by police-
The 4 student victims  and the year the offense occurred:

• 2004, Forest Oak Middle School (Gaithersburg)
• 2014, Ridgeview Middle School (Gaithersburg)
• 2014, Ridgeview Middle School (Gaithersburg)
• 2014, Roberto Clemente Middle School (Germantown)

The 9 additional incidents, six were reported at Ridgeview Middle School and three at at Gaithersburg Middle School.

Other details:

• Pineda worked for MCPS during the following time periods: 2000 – 2003, School Bus Operator, 2003 – 2006, substitute teacher and March 2013 – September 2014, substitute teacher

Pineda taught approximately 111 days during this above time frame (November of 2013 through September of 2014). He taught a variety of grades at the elementary, middle, and high school levels and taught subjects to include English, math, science, biology, computer science, technology, special education classes, and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes.

Pineda is is being held on $150,000 bond.

About Krista Brick

Krista Brick is a multi-media journalist with Montgomery Community Media.

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