Montgomery County school security guard arrested for sex abuse
SILVER SPRING, Md. May 16 2017– A Maryland school security employee is administrative leave after police say he had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl who is a student at the middle school where he works.
Montgomery County police say Mike Anthony Lievano, 21, faces several charges including sexual abuse of a minor and other sexual offenses. Lievano is a security assistant at Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School in Silver Spring. According to police, his relationship with the student began in March.
Investigators say the victim told them Lievano communicated with her via text message, and the two later engaged in inappropriate sexual contact both at her home, and at his home in Silver Spring. They say he admitted to the relationship when he was interviewed by authorities.
Lievano turned himself in to police on Sunday night, and is being held on a $10,000 bond.
Montgomery County Public Schools administrators placed Lievano on administrative leave as soon as they learned of the allegations. Lievano worked as a security assistant at Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School, and according to a letter sent home to parents, he also worked part-time as a security assistant at Rockville High School from September 2015 to February 2016. The letter, printed in its entirety below, also indicates that he then worked in private security before being hired at Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School in February 2017.
Anyone who believes that their child may have been victimized by Lievano is asked to call the Montgomery County Police Department at (240) 773-5400.
Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jack R. Smith released the following statement about the case:
“I am angered and deeply troubled by the allegations against Mr. Lievano. As Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School Principal Kimberly Hayden Williams noted in her letter to the school community, (included below) the charges are a violation of the core values of our school system. We hold our staff to the highest standards and we will not tolerate this type of behavior. MCPS remains committed to the safety of our students. We have developed and implemented staff training on preventing, recognizing and reporting child abuse as well as a curriculum on personal body safety for students at all grade levels. We will continue to take every appropriate measure to ensure our schools are safe and welcoming places to learn for students.”
The following letter was sent to parents of students who attend Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School, from Principal Kimberly Hayden Williams:
I am writing to inform you about the arrest of Mr. Mike Lievano, a security assistant at Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School on one count of sexual abuse of a minor, one count of third-degree sex offense, and one count of fourth-degree sex offense by a person in a position of authority. According to the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD), the charges stem from an alleged inappropriate relationship between Mr. Lievano and a 14 year-old student.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has been fully cooperating with Child Protective Services, MCPD, and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office on this matter. Pursuant to our memorandum of understanding with these agencies and MCPS policies and regulations, the Special Victims Investigations Division of the Montgomery County Police Department requested us not to share any details broadly with the community until now to avoid prejudicing the ongoing investigation.
Mr. Lievano was placed on administrative leave after the allegations of his actions were shared with the school.
In addition to his role at Col. E. Brooke Lee, Mr. Lievano very briefly served as a part-time security assistant at Rockville High School from September 8, 2015 until February 12, 2016. Mr. Lievano then worked in private security until he was hired at Col. E. Brooke Lee in mid-February 2017.
These charges are troubling and completely unacceptable, particularly given that security staff are placed in schools to keep students safe. The charges represent a violation of the core values of our school and school system. This behavior does not reflect the principles of MCPS or our community and it will not be tolerated.
At Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School, we are committed to the well-being of all our students. A support team of school psychologists, counselors and pupil personnel workers from MCPS will join with our staff tomorrow, May 16, 2017 and will be available, as needed, to provide counseling and support to students.
Ensuring a safe learning environment for our students is a top priority. If you or your child have any information that may be helpful to the investigation, I ask that you call the Special Victims Investigations Division of the Montgomery County Police Department at 240-773-5400.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at 301-649-8100 if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Hayden Williams
Principal, Col. E. Brooke Lee MS
WTTG
