Former Edgewood Middle School Teacher Charged With Sex Offenses

BEL AIR, MD — A former Edgewood Middle School teacher has been charged with five sex offenses. Officials said he took a photograph of a student's body part at his residence, then put it on a fetish social media account he operated.

Afterward, authorities said the teacher paid the student for sex. Instead of performing the sex act, the student contacted the Harford County Sheriff's Office, according to investigators.

Jaron Anthonee Darden, 25, of Taft Street in Aberdeen, is charged with:

• Sexual solicitation of a minor
• Prostitution
• Human trafficking of a minor
• Human trafficking - aiding and abetting
• Human trafficking - taking or causing another to be taken for prostitution

A warrant for Darden's arrest was issued Thursday, June 11, and authorities served it Tuesday.

Human trafficking can cover "not only the act itself, but procurement or solicitation," Deputy State's Attorney Gavin Patashnick told Patch Wednesday. To be charged with the offense, one would "cause something to occur that facilitates" the act of exploitation, he explained.

The charges stem from incidents from April to Sept. 1, 2019, according to court records. At the time, Darden worked as a teacher at Edgewood Middle School.

He taught vocal music at Edgewood Middle School for about two years, according to Jillian Lader, spokeswoman for Harford County Public Schools.

Darden was employed by the school system from Aug. 24, 2017, to Sept. 25, 2019, Lader said.

"There is a communication scheduled to go to the families at Edgewood Middle School to make them aware," Lader said of the charges against Darden, who is no longer an employee.

Darden was put on paid administrative leave Aug. 22, 2019, and immediately after unpaid administrative leave was recommended — Sept. 25, 2019 — Lader said he was terminated.

Once he was taken to the Harford County Detention Center Tuesday, Darden appeared before the Harford County District Court Commissioner and was released after posting $5,000 bond.

Darden is the second former Harford County Public Schools teacher to be charged with sex crimes this week. An educator who used to work at Patterson Mill High School and Bel Air Middle School was arrested last Wednesday and charged with rape and other offenses from a case that involved a former student from 1999 to 2000.

People who think they may have been victims of sexual assault may be interested in these resources:

• National Sexual Assault Hotline (24-hour hotline): 800-656-HOPE (4673) and chat
• Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• SARC (24-hour helpline): 410-836-8430
• TurnAround (24-hour hotline): 443-279-0379

Anyone with information about Darden can contact Detective Carey Gerres 410-638-3294.

See Also: Sex Charges Filed Against Bel Air Teacher: Police