Police Charge Catonsville Man After He Allegedly Smokes Pot with Minors

A criminal summons was issued Friday for a Catonsville man who has been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor after allegedly smoking marijuana with juveniles who were in his care last year, according to Anne Arundel County police.

Police said Benjamin Siggers, 31, of the 5100 block of Frederick Avenue in Catonsville was a substitute teacher for Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) and served as a youth group counselor for Severn United Methodist Church in Severn at the time of the incident.

Online court records did not indicate that he had been arrested as of Monday evening.

In April 2012, Siggers reportedly provided transportation to an overnight youth group activity for two male juveniles at a camp near Edgewater. Police said that while driving the two juveniles to camp, Siggers produced marijuana and a smoking device that he shared with them.

Tthe police department and social services began investigating Siggers on Feb. 19, according to a police press release.

On April 15, an application for a statement of charges was presented to the District Court Commissioner. After reviewing the probable cause, the commissioner issued a criminal summons charging Siggers with two counts of contributing to certain condition of child and two counts of possession of marijuana.

Anne Arundel schools spokesman Bob Mosier said that the only connection to AACPS is that Siggers was a substitute teacher in multiple schools from March 2012 to February. Police said once the investigation was launched, Siggers was immediately terminated.

“This is not a school incident,” Mosier said. “The allegations aren’t that anything happened in any of the schools.”

Pastor Wendy van Vliet of the Severn United Methodist Church confirmed that Siggers was a volunteer working with the church. She said that once the church learned of the investigation, it immediately accepted Siggers resignation. Van Vliet declined to say whether the church requested the resignation or whether it came voluntarily. 

"We ensured the safety of our children by accepting his resignation," van Vliet said. "We do put the safety of the children first. We try to error on the side of safety. As soon as something came to our knowledge we took steps."

Van Vliet said the church will continue to work toward strengthening its youth programs.

Odenton-Severn Patch Editor Tim Lemke contributed to this report.