Child Sex Abuse Suspect Denies Wrongdoing; Second Lawsuit Filed

UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Even as training in reporting child sex abuse is ramped up by Prince George’s County Public Schools, an accused child pornographer who worked as a teacher’s aide denies having sex with students, but reportedly admits he shot videos of sexually explicit conduct.

Deonte Carraway, 22, of Glenarden, worked as a teacher’s assistant at Judge Sylvania Woods Elementary School in Glenarden. On school grounds, he reportedly filmed children in sex acts with each other, and he is accused of sexually abusing children between the ages of 9 and 13.

Carraway is charged with 10 counts of felony child pornography, sexual abuse of a minor and second-degree sexual offense. Prince George’s County Police say the number of victims now stands at 14 and investigators expect more victims to come forward and more charges are likely.

On Thursday, the suspect spoke with FOX 5’s Marina Marraco at the Prince George’s County Correctional Center, where he is being held without bond.

Carraway told FOX that he never engaged in sex acts with children, but watched as they performed acts on camera.

»Watch the FOX 5 report on jailhouse interview with Deonte Carraway.

The interactions were recorded on cell phone, and Carraway says they were sent to him by the Kik app.

While Carraway denied that he had sexual contact with schoolchildren, he told the reporter he watched and directed youngsters as they engaged in sex acts, which grew out of Truth or Dare and other games.

The suspect views himself as a troubled person, FOX reports, who was raped as a child in elementary school and later bullied in high school. Carraway denied wrongdoing, saying he felt as if he was just one of the kids.

And police say Carraway also victimized one child at an area church, although officials did not specify which church or explain how the child was harmed.

School Training, Reviews Under Way

Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell, Chief Executive Officer of the school system, will convene a taskforce to review policies and procedures and identify areas of immediate improvement. The district will also consult with national experts to ensure the taskforce recommendations follow best practices from across the country.

Next week, staff from the PGCPS Office of General Counsel will review with principals all laws, policies, and procedures related to an employee’s obligation to report abuse and suspicious behavior.

At every school building, principals will hold mandatory meetings with staff to review the procedures for reporting abuse and suspicious activities.

Professional school counselors will reach out to students and teach lessons in the classroom that address the differences between appropriate and inappropriate physical contact; personal body safety rules and when to use them; and how to identify trusted adults to whom they can report when they feel unsafe.

“As a father, grandfather, and educator that has dedicated my life to the education and safety of students across the state of Maryland, my heart goes out to the families and victims at Judge Sylvania Woods Elementary School and the entire Glenarden community,” said Maxwell during a press conference on Wednesday. “I, like many, was shocked, appalled, disgusted, and disheartened by the allegations that a former PGCPS employee harmed students and vulnerable children.”

Victims Urged to Call Police, FBI

Police said they found 40 videos Carraway made of children engaging in sex acts at the suspect’s direction.

At a press conference Wednesday night, authorities said two dozen families have spoken with police in connection with the sexual assaults at Judge Sylvania Woods Elementary School, where Carraway reportedly directed students in child porn videos, and assaulted at least seven students. Principal Michelle Williams has been placed on administrative leave as the school district and principal face a lawsuit from a young victim, WJLA reports.

Authorities believe more children may have been victims in the case and ask anyone with information to call the FBI’s Baltimore office at 800-CALL-FBI or call the Prince George’s County Police at 301-772-4930.

SEE ALSO:

• Teacher’s Assistant Made Child Porn In Elementary School: Police
• Principal on Leave, School Sued in Child Porn Case: Update
• ‘Vile Incident’: Number of Child Victims Increases

Second Lawsuit Filed By Abuse Victim

A lawsuit reportedly filed against Prince George’s County Public Schools claims that the predatory behavior of Carraway was well known by students, teachers and parents and reported to the school’s principal, says WTOP. A search of Maryland online court records did not show the lawsuit.

The guardian of a 9-year-old boy allegedly assaulted by Carraway has filed the legal action. An adult relative of the boy first discovered a sexually explicit photo Carraway sent to the child via cell phone, and reported it to police, which launched the investigation.

According to the lawsuit, other students were also sexually abused by Carraway, who coerced youngsters to engage in sex acts with him and with each other on school property during the school day.

NBC Washington reports the family of another alleged victim, an 11-year-old boy in the school choir, identified as John Doe 2, filed for a class-action lawsuit on Thursday against the school board and principal Williams.

The second family’s lawyer, David Simpson, said, “Unfortunately, the more we keep looking, the more we keep finding and the broader the whole matter seems to be getting,” he said.

Other students in the victim’s fourth-grade class, perhaps as many as 30 children, may have been victims of Carraway, the plaintiffs claim.

“Carraway’s abuse was common knowledge among students at Sylvania Woods,” WTOP reports the lawsuit says. “Parents and teachers at Sylvania Woods Elementary School had expressed concern and/or raised issues about Carraway’s predatory behavior to Principal Michelle Williams, but she took no action.”

Carraway Family Statement

Carraway’s family members released a statement Wednesday, WUSA reports, that said they are shocked by the suspect’s behavior and are assisting police in the investigation.

The statement says in part:

“First and foremost, we would like to express our extreme shock and deepest sorrow over the actions of Deonte Carraway that have been reported over the last few days. As a family who loves him dearly, we must stress that we do not condone the behaviors in question that has victimized numerous families and brought unimaginable fear and sadness to our community as a whole. Our prayers and thoughts are with the innocent victims and their families during this trying time.”