Montgomery Community Media

Montgomery County resident use of domestic and sexual violence victim services under the county Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) nearly doubled this year compared to 2019 data. Intakes for the Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program (VASAP) and the Abused Persons Program (APP) were 91% higher between Jan.-June 2020 than they were between […]

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) filed for bankruptcy Tuesday in the midst of hundreds of sexual abuse lawsuits from former scouts who say they were abused by leaders.  This means that civil litigation is halted, and there will be no jury trial. Alleged victims with lawsuits now have to file in bankruptcy court. The […]

Montgomery County detectives from the Vice and Intelligence Unit of the Special Investigations Division have charged a Bethesda man with soliciting prostitution from a licensed massage and physical therapist at her business. Police identified the Bethesda man as 60-year-old Seth Hurwitz who owns the 9:30 Club and the Anthem and manages and books Merriweather Post […]

A Maryland law that strengthens background checks on potential school employees regarding previous instances of sexual misconduct and abuse went into effect Monday. The law requires that all schools must contact every place where the applicant previously worked with students or other minors, as well as receive official confirmation that the applicant has not been […]

The Maryland Province Jesuits released the names of 24 priests—former, deceased, and current Jesuits “no longer serving in ministry”—who were “credibly accused” of sexually abusing minors. In a letter, Fr. Robert M. Hussey, who oversees Maryland Province Jesuits said he apologized to the victims of the named priests. “We view the disclosure today of our shameful […]

One of the victims of a former Montgomery County Public Schools’ music teacher who pleaded guilty Monday to sexually abusing her is suing the school system saying the system failed to keep her safe. In a civil suit filed last month in Montgomery County Court, Towson Attorney Joseph Williams, on behalf of the New Hampshire Estates Elementary School […]

Montgomery County Police say a paraeducator who allegedly touched a student inappropriately did so on school grounds. According a news release from police, Robert Otis Wilson III, 23, of Silver Spring, was arrested at a restaurant in White Oak Thursday night after the Special Victims Investigations Division began an investigation into alleged sexual offenses by […]

Jose Pineda, a former substitute teacher who was recently arrested and charged with having inappropriate contact with several Montgomery County Public Schools students, will continue to be held on $150,000 bond after a bond hearing was held today in Montgomery County District Court. Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Spokesman Ramon Korionoff said the former teacher remains […]