Former Arundel High Teacher Sentenced on Sex Abuse Conviction

GAMBRILLS, MD — A former Arundel High School math teacher who was convicted of sex abuse last month for inappropriately touching a 16-year-old girl in a classroom, despite his assertion that he merely hugged the student, was sentenced Monday to prison time and lifelong listing on the state's sex offender registry.

Nathan Lee Martin, 39, of Severna Park, was convicted of sex offense fourth-degree sexual contact, a sex offense fourth-degree person in a position of authority, and second-degree assault, according to the Anne Arundel County state's attorney's office.

The 16-year-old girl and her parents reported the contact to police on Dec. 12, 2015. Child abuse detectives also talked to others at the school, who supported the teen’s allegation, investigators say. Martin was arrested in January 2016.

The incident happened Dec. 10, when Martin reportedly called the girl into a classroom closet, hugged her and placed his hands on her buttocks. Police say the teacher then sat on a desk and pulled the student toward him so his face touched her chest. According to police, Martin told the teen she was beautiful and should be more confident.

Martin faced up to 25 years in prison at sentencing; he received a 10 year-sentence with all but 18 months of the term suspended, plus five years of supervised probation, reports WTOP. Martin must also undergo psychosexual evaluation and treatment, is barred from contact with the victim and must have no unsupervised contact with non-family members under the age 18.

Anne Arundel police had put out the call for potential victims to come forward in January after Martin — a math teacher at Arundel High — was charged with sex offenses related to allegations made by a student. A week after Martin's conviction in Anne Arundel County, he was charged with similar offenses in Baltimore County, where he had also taught.

Related: Sex Case at Arundel High School Leads to New Charges

In the Baltimore County case, police charged Martin with sex abuse, second-degree assault and two counts of fourth-degree sex offense. Martin allegedly touched a 16-year-old girl in the chest area, put his hands between her legs and tried to kiss her on a staircase at Catonsville High School, police said. The teen reportedly pushed him away.

The incident occurred after Martin had been supervising a scrimmage between the boys' and girls' basketball teams at Catonsville High School on Dec. 12, 2003, police said. He tried to get the girl to go into his classroom with him after the game but she did not, and police said the alleged sex abuse occurred after that.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department notified Baltimore County law enforcement of the allegations in February, officials reported.

When charges were brought in Anne Arundel County in January, the Catonsville High School victim saw Martin's picture on the news and contacted authorities, according to The Capital. Police said Martin no longer works for Baltimore County Public Schools.

Over the years, Martin bounced back and forth between Anne Arundel and Baltimore County public school systems, teaching in the former until his contract expired June 30 and the latter until he resigned in 2009 for undisclosed reasons, The Capital reported. According to the newspaper, the teen in Catonsville spoke with social services, the principal was notified and Martin was placed on administrative leave after the 2003 incident.

Martin was indicted July 6 by a grand jury in the Catonsville High School case and will face trial Oct. 27 in Baltimore County.

Pictured, Nathan Lee Martin. Photo courtesy of theBaltimore County Police Department.