MC Police: Teacher Charged with 14 Counts of Sex Abuse of a Minor

Teacher Charged with 14 Counts of Sex Abuse of a Minor

Published on August 13, 2013 by mcpnews in Press Releases

Montgomery County Police-Child Exploitation Unit detectives have charged Lawrence Wesley Joynes,  age 54, of the 1900 block of Ormand Road in Dundalk, Maryland, with 14 counts of sex abuse of a minor, one count of third degree sex offense, child abuse, and second degree rape.  Detectives have identified 15 female victims.  14 of these victims were students of Joynes’ music class at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School (8720 Carroll Avenue in Silver Spring).  The abuse occurred from 2005 to 2013 and occurred in Joynes’ music classroom on school grounds.  The victims were in grades kindergarten to second grade.  The fifteenth victim is now an adult and was victimized in the 1990s.

In February of 2013, a Homeland Security and Baltimore County Police child exploitation investigation revealed that Joynes was in possession of child pornography.  Baltimore County Police and Homeland Security executed a search warrant at Joynes’ residence and at Joynes’ classroom.  At both locations videos and images of children were found on his computer and other digital media.  Examining the seized videos and photographs, Montgomery County detectives have identified 14 students who were victims of sex abuse.  The abuse included the suspect directing the victims and/or assisting the victims in imitating sexually suggestive gestures and also inappropriate touching by the suspect.

On August 8, Montgomery County detectives charged Joynes via a criminal warrant with 14 counts of sex abuse of a minor and one count of sex offense third degree.  He is currently in the custody of the Baltimore County Detention Center on child pornography charges.

Montgomery County police have also identified a female victim who is now an adult.  Joynes had unlawful sexual encounters with her during a three year period in the 1990s.  Joynes has been charged with second degree rape and child abuse in this case.

No further information will be released on the victims in order to protect their identities and respect their privacy.

Joynes had been a Montgomery County Public School teacher for approximately 27 years and had taught at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School for approximately ten years.   Detectives are asking anyone who has been a victim of sex abuse by Joynes and has not reported it to police to please call the Montgomery County Police-Child Exploitation Unit at 240-773-5400.