Former Music Teacher Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Sexual Abuse

A former Montgomery County music teacher from Dundalk was sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexually abusing 15 elementary school students, and will have to spend at least 20 years in prison before he can be considered for parole.

Lawrence Wesley Joynes, 56, of Dundalk was first arrested on child pornography charges in February 2013; pleading guilty a year later in Baltimore County Circuit Court. He was ordered to register as a sex offender and sentenced to his time served in jail.

In May 2015, Joynes pleaded guilty to filming Montgomery County students in kindergarten through second grade in sexual poses, reports The Washington Post.

Joynes was a music teacher who taught in 11 Montgomery County Public Schools for more than 25 years.

At his sentencing hearing Friday, Joynes apologized to the former students in a statement, The Post reports. “I never, ever meant to harm any of you physically or emotionally. For any damage, any shame, any trauma that I’ve caused, I apologize from the depths of my soul.”

After Baltimore authorities found “thousands of images of child pornography” on his computer, Montgomery County detectives identified 14 elementary school students as victims of sex abuse while Joynes was a music teacher at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School in Silver Spring.

Authorities said that Joynes had sex with another student, who was at Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring, in the 1990s. He faces additional prison time for that offense when he is sentenced later this year.

In the middle school case, prosecutors say Joynes gained the child’s trust so contact increased from kisses to weekly sexual intercourse in a music room.

“This man is a predator; he’s been a predator for decades,” State’s Attorney John McCarthy told The Post. “I think that’s a disgrace.”

Lawsuit Filed Against Teacher, School System

Towson attorney Joseph Williams filed a civil lawsuit in May on behalf of the New Hampshire Estates Elementary School student and her family. Joynes and the Montgomery County School Board are named as defendants in the lawsuit.

The suit claims the school system did not react appropriately or acted with deliberate indifference to Joynes’ abuse and ignored allegations of sexual abuse, reports Montgomery Community Media.

The victim is seeking $75,000 for each occurrence. Williams says any money won by the student and her family would help the pay for psychological, social and any other treatment required.

»Photo of Lawrence Joynes courtesy of Montgomery Community Media