More Victims Of Ex-After School Worker Come Forward, Police Say

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA – After more children reportedly came forward about misconduct from former Montgomery Early Learning Center employee Darrien Glover, additional charges related to abuse of children have been filed against the 24-year-old Philadelphia man.

Glover – who is already facing felony counts of unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of a minor, and related charges – was hit with more charges by Lower Merion Township Police following testimony from two children who he allegedly abused while they were enrolled in Montgomery Early Learning Center (MELC) programming.

Glover now faces charges of felony unlawful contact with a minor, felony indecent assault of a person less than 13, felony corruption of minors, felony endangering the welfare of children, and invasion of privacy, according to court records.

The charges were filed Dec. 14 after two children reported to Lower Merion Police that Glover had inappropriate contact with them.

One student said Glover grabbed her buttocks while the other said he put his hand down her pants and underwear.

MELC leaders sent a letter to families on Dec. 20 addressing the new charges, saying the children came forward wen the MELC alerted the community to Glover's charges in November.

"We understand that the families, both from the Cynwyd site, contacted the Lower Merion Police Department after receiving MELC’s November 29 letter to the community," the letter reads, :We are continuing to work collaboratively with the Lower Merion Police Department in support of their ongoing investigation. We encourage anyone with additional information that may be relevant to the criminal investigation to contact Detective Joseph Hunsicker at 610-649-1000. In the meantime, our hearts and thoughts go out to the families."

MELC officials said it formed a special board subcommittee that is leading an external review. That review will examine MELC's response of Glover's charges, various MELC policies and procedures, and the MELC's cooperation with law enforcement during their investigation.

"The board has engaged Gina Smith and Leslie Gomez from Cozen O’Connor, former prosecutors who are well known for their experience in helping educational institutions and child-serving organizations prevent and respond to child abuse," the letter reads. "Parents who have concerns may contact Gina and Leslie directly to share any information that may be helpful to their review. Gina is available at gmsmith@cozen.com or 215-665-5540, and Leslie at lgomez@cozen.comor 215-665-5546."

After parents expressed concerns over the handling of the previously announced charges, the MELC has enacted the following polices:

• Created an email address for you to communicate directly with MELC senior staff. The email address is feedback@melc.org and is will be reviewed daily by MELC’s Chief Program Officer, Judy Witmer;
• Began posting staff photo boards at each site with the full names of staff working that day; all sites will have staff photo boards by the end of this week;
• Deployed members of MELC’s management team on a rotating basis to each Lower Merion site; and
• Coordinated with Mission Kids to provide additional sexual abuse prevention training to all of our staff through the Darkness to Light program.

Glover was hired as a part-time Assistant Teacher in March 2014, according to MELC officials. He cleared all of the state-mandated background checks, officials said.

While with MELC, he worked at Cynwyd, Summer Camp, and in combined Perk Days at Belmont Hills and Cynwyd. His’s last day with MELC was June 1, 2017, and he was terminated in June 2017, officials said.

Glover was previously accused of two incidents earlier in 2017 where he exposed himself to two children who were enrolled in MELC programming in Lower Merion.

Glover remains jailed on $99,000 bail set on Nov. 29 for the previous incidents and is awaiting a preliminary hearing for the charges filed on Dec. 14.

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