Retired MCPS Teacher Arrested for Sex Offenses in 1980s

Michael Riley | MCPD

Update, 9:31 a.m.: Online court records say Michael John Riley posted bond and was released this morning.

Original post: A retired Montgomery County Public Schools teacher has been charged with sexual abuse offenses because of a relationship he had with a 16-year-old student in the 1980s, Montgomery County police said Tuesday night.

Michael John Riley, 63, of the 200 block of Deer Run Drive, Walkersville, had the relationship with the girl during the 1984 to 1985 school year at Rockville High School, police said.

At the time, Riley worked as a teacher at the school, at 2100 Baltimore Road. Riley is now a staff member at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School at 1901 E. Jefferson St., Rockville, police said.

Police began investigating Riley on April 20. The victim told investigators Riley engaged in sexual intercourse with her in the school and during school hours, police said.

On April 24, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Riley, charging him with child abuse by a custodian, school molestation on premises, and school molestation by staff, police said.

Riley turned himself in to detectives Tuesday and was taken to the Central Processing Unit. Bail information for Riley is not yet available.

A statement from MCPS said the school system is fully cooperating with police.

MCPS hired Riley in 1979, and he retired in 2010. During this time he taught at Rockville and Richard Montgomery high schools, and served as athletic director at Poolesville and Clarksburg high schools.

Because the alleged incidents occurred more than 30 years ago, MCPS will not send a letter to current families, MCPS said.

Detectives are requesting that parents of students who attend the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, where Riley is currently a staff member, talk to their children about their interactions with him. Anyone with information is asked to call the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400.

About Staff Writer

View all posts by Staff Writer