Former Teacher, Coach Charged with Sex Abuse of Student

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UPDATED at 1:20 p.m.

A former Silver Spring teacher, who was also an assistant track coach in Wheaton, has been charged with sexually abusing a 13-year-old student, police say.

Montgomery County Police have arrested Robert Otis Wilson III, 23 of Washington, D.C., for inappropriate contact with a female student at school.

Wilson was a paraeducator at A. Mario Loiederman Middle School in Silver Spring and assistant track coach at Wheaton High School for the past two years, reports Montgomery Community Media.

Wilson was charged with sex abuse of a minor and and three counts of third-degree sex offense, according to police. The incidents allegedly took place between October 2014 and March 2015, police say, most on school grounds.

Detectives say the victim and Wilson would meet at least once a day on school grounds, during or after school. Once in January of 2015, the contact occurred at the victim’s residence; Wilson had gone to the victim’s residence and texted her that he wanted to see her.

At the end of March, Wilson left his role as paraeducator at the school and the contact between the victim and Wilson ended.

Police say Wilson admitted to having inappropriate contact with the victim, who was 13 years old when most of the incidents happened.

Investigators ask anyone who believes he/she was a victim of inappropriate contact with Wilson to call the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5409.

Wilson is being held on bond and is scheduled for a bond review in Montgomery County District Court on Friday.

Montgomery County Public Schools released a statement to MyMCMedia:

“We are very concerned and disturbed about the allegations against Mr. Wilson and that some of the alleged conduct that led to his arrest may have occurred on school property. We will continue to work with the Montgomery County Police Department and encourage anyone who has any information that may be helpful to the investigation to contact the police immediately.

When this allegation came to the attention of a member of the Loiederman Middle School staff earlier this month, it was immediately reported to Child Protective Services and the Montgomery County Police Department, which began an investigation. We are grateful for their partnership. We are continuing to support the student, the student’s family, and the school community.

MCPS has taken great strides to improve its policies, procedures, and protocols related to preventing, identifying, and reporting allegations of child abuse and neglect. We will continue to improve in this area in collaboration with our partners in Child Protective Services, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the State’s Attorney’s Office.

Mr. Wilson worked as a special education paraeducator from August 2013 through March 30, 2015, when he moved to the Division of Food and Nutrition Services warehouse—a job he applied for. For the past two years, he has also worked as the assistant track coach at Wheaton High School. He is currently on administrative leave. Both communities are being notified about his arrest, which occurred late (Thursday) night.”

»Photo of Robert Otis Wilson III, courtesy of Montgomery County Police