School Aide Charged With Sex Abuse In Candy Search

MONTGOMERY VILLAGE, MD — A former Montgomery County Public Schools employee was charged with sexual abuse of a minor for "allowing a 7-year-old female elementary school student to reach into his pants pocket to look for candy," police announced Monday.

Hermes Lagos Toro, 58, of Locustdale Drive in Germantown, worked as a teacher's aide at Stedwick Elementary School in Montgomery Village.

The girl told police that Toro "allowed her to reach into his pockets and manipulate his private area as she searched for candy."

The victim, who is now 15, reported the abuse to police in March 2018. She said the abuse happened in the 2010-2011 school year, when she was 7-years-old and in second grade.

The incident occurred when Toro was monitoring second grade indoor recess, police said.

Toro "confirmed that children at the school frequently placed their hands in his pockets in search of treats" during a police interview, police said.

Toro was arrested on the strength of a criminal warrant on Friday and charged with sexual abuse of a minor and a third-degree sex offense, police said. He was transported to the Central Processing Unit and was released on bond.

Detectives are requesting that parents of juveniles who may have had contact with Hector Hermes Lagos Toro to talk to their children about any interaction with him and contact detectives at 240-773-5400 if they believe their child was victimized.

Photo via MCPD