MCPS Security Team Leader Charged with Sex Offense

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) have arrested and charged Mark Christopher Yantsos, age 57, of the 600 block of Warfield Drive in Rockville, for having inappropriate contact with a 17-year-old female Richard Montgomery High School student while he worked as the security team leader at the school. The Montgomery County Public Schools system placed Yantsos on administrative leave as soon as it learned of these allegations.

On Monday, April 3, SVID detectives were notified by school officials that a Montgomery County Public Schools employee had engaged in an ongoing sexual relationship with a student at the high school where he worked.

SVID detectives interviewed the victim who told investigators that she met Yantsos while she was a student at Richard Montgomery High School and while he worked as part of the school security team at the school. The victim stated that Yantsos befriended her in 2016 and that he purchased multiple gifts for her since that time. In March of 2017, Yantsos bought the victim a phone in order to communicate with her during and after school hours.

The victim further stated that on March 3, 2017 at approximately 10:00 p.m., Yantsos drove to her home, picked her up, and drove her to a hotel in Rockville where he engaged in inappropriate contact with her.

Investigators were provided with copies of inappropriate text messages that Yantsos had recently sent to the victim.

Yantsos was arrested this morning at his home on the strength of a Montgomery County criminal warrant, charging him with sexual abuse of a minor and a fourth-degree sex offense. He was transported to the Central Processing Unit. Bond information is not available at this time.

Detectives are requesting that parents of students who attend Richard Montgomery High School talk to their children about their interactions with Mark Christopher Yantsos and contact SVID detectives at 240-773-5400 if they believe their child was victimized.

http://www.mymcpnews.com/2017/04/06/montgomery-county-public-school-security-team-leader-charged-with-sex-offense/