Former South River High School Teacher Pleads Guilty to Assault

EDGEWATER, MD — A former South River High School teacher who said he grabbed a student by the underwear in harmless horseplay has pleaded guilty to assault, authorities said Wednesday.

Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams said that Doug Richard Brown, 41, of Annapolis, a former teacher at the school, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault on Friday.

Brown was accused of cornering a 17-year-old student in a classroom and grabbing him forcefully by his underwear. The defendant called the assault mere horseplay.

"We expect our teachers to care for our children, not put them in compromising and humiliating situations," said Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams in a statement.

Brown was sentenced by District Court Judge Eileen A. Reilly to probation before judgment and one year of supervised probation, citing his lack of a prior criminal record.