Judge keeps Randallstown High School teacher accused of sexually abusing student under house arrest – Baltimore Sun

A Baltimore County judge ordered the release of a 38-year-old Randallstown teacher and coach accused of sexually abusing a student and ordered him to be placed under house arrest.

Baltimore County police arrested Carlos Arroyo, a football coach and teacher at Randallstown High School, on Friday.

The social studies teacher and boys’ soccer coach is charged with sexual abuse of a minor and a third-degree sex offense – both felonies – as well as second-degree assault and a fourth-degree sex offense by a person in a position of power.

District Judge Leo Ryan Jr. ruled Monday that Arroyo must await trial under house arrest at a relative’s home. Ryan ordered him to stay away from any victims or witnesses in the case.

“I’m worried about his own children,” Ryan said before ordering Arroyo to stay away from all children under 18, including his own.

A student told a school social worker on April 30 that Arroyo had performed sexual acts on her the day before in his car in the parking garage of the Owing Mills subway station, police wrote in charging documents.

She told the social worker that a “married man in his 30s with two children” had driven her to the subway station after soccer practice, but initially declined to give his name. The student also said that a black charger she was holding belonged to the man. A school police officer later saw her return the charger to Arroyo on school surveillance cameras.

The student told investigators and a social services worker that she confided in Arroyo about personal problems and suicidal thoughts. He offered to help her with her relationships, drove her to the train station and once taught her about circumcision, charging documents say. Arroyo also touched and kissed her in the classroom, she told police.

On April 29, Arroyo parked his car on the third floor of the Owings Mills subway station and climbed into the back seat with her, the student told police. A security camera filmed her entering the garage that day, charging documents say, and Arroyo’s phone records showed his device was in the parking garage during that time.

“The victim stated that she remained silent during the attack and did not know what to do; she simply froze,” police wrote in the indictment.

At one point, Arroyo told her she was lucky that he had been respectful and had not walked away, police said.

A nurse at Greater Baltimore Medical Center who conducted a sexual assault examination saw “reddish-purple” marks on the student’s neck and chest, as well as a scratch on her thigh, charging documents say. The student said she was in pain after the alleged assault.

Armed with a grand jury subpoena, investigators obtained messages between Arroyo and the student on the school’s platform Schoology. The two later exchanged messages on April 29 in which the student told Arroyo she had “small scratches and cuts all over her legs.”

The student also sent Arroyo a message on May 1: “Maybe you can go somewhere better instead. Maybe teaching wasn’t the right career for you,” she wrote. “You won’t stay in prison forever and you may never get out because this wasn’t rape. I don’t know why I feel bad when you’re so obviously manipulative, but I’m sorry it overwhelmed you so much.”

The student also wrote in a note to Arroyo that police recovered from his classroom trash can: “You don’t think this is too much of a risk.” He responded with a note that said: “It’s 100% a risk. We can stop at any time. That includes the rides to the train, let me know,” charging documents say.

On May 9, a Carroll County Sheriff’s deputy told a county detective that Arroyo’s wife had found him with a loaded firearm and a suicide note. By that time, county police had already informed Arroyo of the charges against him and towed his car to search it.

“…I did not do what they accused me of doing,” Arroyo wrote in her suicide note, which was included in an emergency medical examination. “I am sorry for causing so much pain and hurting so many people…”

Baltimore County Assistant District Attorney Zarena Sita argued Monday that Arroyo should remain incarcerated at the Baltimore County Detention Center because he abused his position of power and engaged in “grooming behavior.”

“He was entrusted with the care of the students at this high school,” Sita said, adding that prosecutors were also concerned about his access to weapons.

Alex Leikus, who represents Arroyo’s defense attorney Bradley Shepherd, said Arroyo and his wife co-own their home. “He’s a product of Baltimore County. He’s worked his whole life,” Leikus said. He declined to comment on the case Monday.

Arroyo, seen in a video from Towson Prison wearing an orange jumpsuit, has no criminal record in Maryland.

According to a letter from Principal Michael Jones to the Randallstown High community on Saturday, the school has placed him on leave. According to the letter, counseling services for students will be available this week.

Police and school officials urge anyone who believes they were abused by Arroyo to contact the Baltimore County Police Department’s Child Crime Unit at 410-887-7720 or the Department of Social Services at 410-887-8463 (TIME).

Arroyo is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on July 19.