New Sex Abuse Victims of Former Silver Spring Teacher Come Forward

SILVER SPRING, MD — A former third-grade teacher at Clover Elementary School who was charged in June with sex abuse for allegations that he inappropriately touched two girls has been charged with the abuse of three other former student, including a case that dates back 16 years, police say.

John Vigna, 50, of the 1000 block of Notley Road in Silver Spring, was arrested June 27 by Montgomery County Police on one count of sexual abuse of a minor and four counts of third-degree sexual offense involving two victims. The incidents occurred in a classroom at the school, located at 800 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring.

Detectives were concerned that additional students had been victimized by Vigna. After his arrest, detectives were contacted by three previously unknown victims who reported the following:

• A woman now in her twenties reported that Vigna sexually abused her while she was a student at Cloverly Elementary School during the 2000 to 2002 school years.

• A juvenile female reported that Vigna sexually abused her during the 2013-2014 school year at Cloverly Elementary School.

• A juvenile female reported that Vigna sexually abused her during the 2015-2016 school year at Cloverly Elementary School.

On Nov. 15, police obtained an arrest warrant for Vigna, charging him with two additional counts of sexual abuse of a minor, child abuse exploitation, and three additional counts of third-degree sexual offense. He was arrested Thursday after he turned himself in to detectives. A judge ordered that Vigna be held without bond.

Vigna was placed by the Montgomery County Public Schools system on administrative leave in February 2016 when police were notified of the complaints. In the first two reported cases, Vigna is accused of holding one girl on his lap, and moving the child back and forth on his lap while holding her close to him. When she tried to leave, he resisted letting her go. The girl was also inappropriately touched on the buttocks several times in the classroom.

In February of 2016, the student's friend, also an 11-year-old girl, came into the classroom. Both students hugged the teacher goodbye and both saw that Vigna rubbed the buttocks of the girls. The second victim talked to her parents and police were contacted.

Detectives ask that parents of students who had Vigna as a teacher talk to their children about their interactions with him and contact police at 240-773-5400 if they believe their child was victimized.

»Photo of former Cloverly Elementary School teacher John Vigna, courtesy of Montgomery County Police