A former Montgomery County paraeducator is accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old female student.
Robert Otis Wilson III was arrested Thursday night for sex abuse of a minor, Montgomery County Police said.
Wilson was a paraeducator at A. Mario Loiederman Middle School in Silver Spring. A charging document says the abuse occurred between approximately Oct. 1, 2014 and March 31, around the time he left the school to start a new job.
The document said Wilson gave the victim his cellphone number while he was helping her with homework at the school. The two began speaking on the phone and then began meeting under a stairwell in the school, where they would kiss and touch, according to the document.
The victim also told police that on one occasion, Wilson met her at her apartment building.
"We are very concerned and disturbed about the allegations against Mr. Wilson and that some of the alleged conduct that led to his arrest may have occurred on school property," Montgomery County Public Schools (CPS) said in a statement in part.
MCPS said Wilson is currently on administrative leave.
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Wilson had worked for the school district since August 2013, when he started as a special education paraeducator. He later applied for a job at the Division of Food and Nutrition Services warehouse, and began that position March 30.
Wilson also worked as the assistant track coach at Wheaton High School for the past two years.
Members of both school communities are being notified about the arrest, MCPS said.
MCPS said the sex assault allegation came to the attention of a staff member at Loiederman Middle School earlier this month. The claim was then reported to Child Protective Services and the Montgomery County Police Department.
Authorities interviewed Wilson on Tuesday. They say he admitted he had feelings toward the victim and that he knew it was wrong due to their age difference and his position as a paraeducator.
Police said they got a warrant for Wilson's arrest and found him at a fast food restaurant in White Oak around 9 p.m. Thursday. He is charged with one count of sex abuse of a minor and three counts of third-degree sex offense.
Wilson is in police custody and has a bond review at 1 p.m. Friday.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 22 in Montgomery County District Court.
The Montgomery County School Board is cooperating with police on the investigation.
