June 12, 2017
For more information, contact: John J. McCarthy, (240) 777-7390
Ramon V. Korionoff, Public Affairs Director (240) 777-7397
Mobile (301) 300-6312
EX CLOVERLY ELEMENTARY TEACHER JOHN VIGNA CONVICTED ON FOUR COUNTS OF SEX ABUSE OF A MINOR AND FIVE COUNTS OF THIRD DEGREE SEX OFFENSE
John J. McCarthy, State's Attorney for Montgomery County, announced today that John Vigna, 50, of Silver Spring, was convicted of four counts of sex abuse of a minor and five counts of third degree sex offense. Vigna taught third, fourth, and fifth grade over a span of 20 years at Cloverly Elementary in Silver Spring.
A jury returned a guilty verdict after about 9 hours of deliberation following a weeklong trial presided over by the Honorable Judge David A. Boynton. Vigna testified at trial and maintains that he never had intentional inappropriate contact with students.
Vigna was arrested in June of 2016 after five Cloverly students, both current and former, reported that they had been touched inappropriately while sitting in Vigna's lap during the school day. Victims came forward after taking a mandated body safety class that helped them to understand inappropriate contact.
Vigna will be sentenced in August where he could face 25 years in prison for each count of sex abuse of a minor and 10 years for each third degree sex offense.
"Body Safety Classes instituted by MCPS helped to expose this child sex offender. We commend the jury for working hard through a Friday night to render this verdict. It holds John Vigna accountable," said John McCarthy.
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06/09/2017 Docket Number: 95
Docket Description: VERDICT
Docket Type: Docket Filed By: Court
Docket Text: VERDICT: COUNT 1: CHILD ABUSE SEXUAL- GUILTY.
COUNT 2: SEX OFFENSE THIRD DEGREE- GUILTY.
COUNT 3: SEX ABUSE MINOR- GUILTY.
COUNT 4: SEX OFFENSE THIRD DEGREE- GUILTY.
COUNT 5: SEX OFFENSE THIRD DEGREE- GUILTY. COUNT 6: NOT GUILTY.
COUNT 7 (ORIGINALLY COUNT 9): SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR- GUILTY.
COUNT 8 (ORIGINALLY COUNT 10): SEX OFFENSE THIRD DEGREE- GUILTY.
COUNT 9 (ORIGINALLY COUNT 11): SEX OFFENSE THIRD DEGREE - GUILTY.
COUNT 10 (ORIGINALLY COUNT 12) SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR - GUILTY.
COUNT 11 (ORIGINALLY COUNT 13): NOT GUILTY. COUNT 12 (ORIGINALLY COUNT 14): NOT GUILTY.
Statement of Charges in MCPS Teacher John Vigna case by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland on Scribd
"Vigna will be sentenced in August where he could face 25 years in prison for each count of sex abuse of a minor and 10 years for each third degree sex offense."
ReplyDeleteNICE, BUT REALITY TRUMPS POSSIBILITY.
He got 48 years, from what I hear in Montgomery county that's good
DeleteWhat about the principal and the Board of Ed who were complicit in this? The Board set this policy and is sticking by it.
DeleteThe principal followed protocol set by the BOE who are elected officials hence above the law.
DeleteCan you post Vigna's second arrest warrant? Was Vigna found guilty of all of the charges listed on this arrest warrant?
ReplyDeleteYou can look it up: http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch//inquiry-index.jsp
DeleteThe arrest warrants are not online. That is a listing of court docket entries.
DeleteMeanwhile, back at the ranch: http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/2017/Montgomery-Countys-Lead-Prosecutor-Alarmed-by-Growing-Gang-Violence/
ReplyDeleteTo the people that are "vigna strong" you have let down your children and your community. The teachers that stood beside him should be fired if they believe this behavior is right. I left Montgomery county because of the horrible schools. They do not report these perverts so they can keep the scores and money coming in. He should have been reported in 98 the first time he did it!
ReplyDeleteI wonder for everyone they catch how many others are lurking in the nooks and crannies?
DeleteTypical reactive elective official mentality
ReplyDelete"lock the barn door after the horse has bolted."