Several Girls Were Inappropriately Touched By 12-Year-Old At Middle School Dance: Police

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Numerous female middle school students reported being sexually assaulted by a boy at a middle school dance Thursday night at Aberdeen Middle School. The student they said is responsible for the assaults will not be charged in the incident, however.

According to the Aberdeen Police Department, officers were called to the middle school around 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9. They were contacted by the school resource officer needing help with a "large, disorderly crowd."

Several girls reported being assaulted during the dance by a 12-year-old boy who police say "touched them inappropriately." As word about the assaults spread, students grew upset and contacted their parents, who arrived at the school.

"The dance was ended early as a result of the large crowd, and all parents and students were evacuated from the building. The Aberdeen Police Department met with all the victims who came forward to report an assault," according to a statement from the police department.

Due to juvenile justice reform legislation that was passed in 2022, criminal charges will not be filed. The new law prohibits Maryland police from criminally charging suspects under the age of 13. Instead, sanctions will be handled by Harford County Public Schools, the police department noted.