Maryland Teacher Caught In Fairfax County Child Sex Sting (ICYMI)

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — A Maryland middle school teacher who had been awarded a statewide teacher-of-the-year honor has been charged after being caught in an online child sex sting, Fairfax County Police say.

The investigation began on Aug. 31 when the suspect contacted a detective posing as a 14-year-old boy. Police say the suspect asked for sexual contact and sent sexually explicit images likely of himself.

Police contacted Maryland authorities once Kenneth Brian Fischer, 39, of Westminster, Maryland, was identified as the suspect. Fischer is a teacher at Westminster West Middle School. Since 2000, he worked as a teacher and administrator at other Carroll County public schools, including North Carroll High School, Winters Mill High School Francis Scott Key High School, Manchester Valley High School, Sykesville Middle School and Mt. Airy Middle School.

Fischer was arrested and charged with four counts of solicitation of a minor Wednesday when authorities searched his home with a warrant. He is being held at Carroll County Detention Center and is awaiting extradition to Virginia pending a hearing. He has not been charged in Maryland.

The Maryland State Department of Education awarded Fischer with a "Teacher of the Year" award in 2006 as a biology teacher at Winter Mills High School.

Carroll County Public Schools said in a statement Thursday:

We were informed on Wednesday, September 13, 2017, that Dr. Kenneth Fischer, a teacher at West Middle School, was arrested on four (4) warrants out of Fairfax County, Virginia, related to child sex offenses.

We immediately began cooperating with law enforcement and the State’s Attorney’s Office in the investigation.

Once law enforcement informs us of an investigation, we are not able to communicate any information or details that may impair their investigation. We can communicate in concert with them but only communicate when approved and only share details that will not interfere with a law enforcement investigation.

Dr. Fischer has been suspended without pay pending a recommendation of termination to the Board of Education.

We will continue to do whatever we can to assist law enforcement in their investigation.

Evidence including electronic and digital data storage devices have been turned over to the Fairfax County Police. Investigators are conducting digital forensic analysis on the devices.

Police believe there could be other victims in Northern Virginia and Maryland. Anyone with information about Fischer is asked to contact the Major Crimes Bureau's Child Exploitation Unit at 703-246-7800, Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131 or online through Crime Solvers.

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Image via Maryland State Police