PART 8 - What the @mcps SUPERINTENDENT KNEW in 2011: Superintendent Joshua P. Starr wrote to MD State Superintendent to Ask for Scherer's Teaching Certificate to be Revoked, E-mails to Students were "Highly Inappropriate."

@mcps @mocoboe Let's Review What You Knew About Former Broad Acres Elementary School Teacher Richard W. Scherer Back in 2011 While We Wait for Your Official Statement.

The Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD has obtained a copy of the Criminal Complaint and the Affidavit in support of the criminal complaint in the arrest of former MCPS Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard Scherer. 

In Part 8 of our series on the information revealed by the FBI in their Criminal Complaint on former MCPS Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard W. Scherer, the public learns that back in 2011 MCPS and the Board of Education initiated an internal investigation into teacher Richard W. Scherer's interactions with students.  

The MCPS Investigation Specialists report included quotes from a September 7, 2011, letter from Superintendent [Joshua P. Starr] to the State of Maryland Superintendent of Schools [Bernard J. Sadusky]:

• A September 7, 2011 letter from the Superintendent of MCPS [Joshua P. Starr] to the State of Maryland Superintendent of Schools [Bernard J. Sadusky] was made public by the FBI. 

• The letter stated, “this is to notify you that Mr. Richard W. Scherer, an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), resigned after notice of allegations of misconduct involving a student. I recommend that Mr. Scherer’s certificate be revoked.”

• The letter continued, “Mr. Scherer resigned after notice of allegations of inappropriate behavior involving current MCPS students. The investigation conducted by the MCPS Office of Human Resources and Development revealed that Mr. Scherer communicated with the student via text messages that were highly inappropriate.”

Was this information turned over to Child Protective Services?  Was this information turned over to Montgomery County Police? 

Why was a teacher with known inappropriate interactions with children allowed to retire?  

Aren't inappropriate interactions with children an offense that would result in a MCPS employee being fired? Shouldn't this child's statement have been turned over to Child Protective Services and the Montgomery County Police? 

Now there are FIVE MCPS employees and ONE MSDE employee who as MANDATORY REPORTERS should have reported instances of suspected sexual abuse of children to Montgomery County Police or Child Protective Services in 2011.  

Broad Acres Elementary Principal

Broad Acres Assistant Principal

MCPS Investigation Specialist

MCPS Associate Superintendent

MCPS Superintendent

Maryland State Superintendent

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AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT I, Randall E. Garver, being duly sworn, depose and say: 

1. I am a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and entered on duty in May 2006. I am currently assigned to the Buffalo Field Office and work on cases associated with the Violent Crimes Against Children program, which targets individuals involved in the online sexual exploitation of children...

...During my review, I located a September 7, 2011 letter from the Superintendent of MCPS to the State of Maryland Superintendent of Schools. The letter stated, “this is to notify you that Mr. Richard W. Scherer, an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), resigned after notice of allegations of misconduct involving a student. I recommend that Mr. Scherer’s certificate be revoked.”

The letter continued, “Mr. Scherer resigned after notice of allegations of inappropriate behavior involving current MCPS students. The investigation conducted by the MCPS Office of Human Resources and Development revealed that Mr. Scherer communicated with the student via text messages that were highly inappropriate.”..

  More excerpts from the Affidavit will follow in separate posts on this blog.  

PART 7 - WHAT @mcps @mocoboe KNEW in 2011: Children were Scared. Children were Being Hit and Pulled. Children "had to tell someone about this before this gets out of hand."

@mcps @mocoboe Let's Review What You Knew About Former Broad Acres Elementary School Teacher Richard W. Scherer Back in 2011 While We Wait for Your Official Statement.

The Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD has obtained a copy of the Criminal Complaint and the Affidavit in support of the criminal complaint in the arrest of former MCPS Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard Scherer. 

In Part 7 of our series on the information revealed by the FBI in their Criminal Complaint on former MCPS Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard W. Scherer the public learns that back in 2011, MCPS and the Board of Education initiated an internal investigation into teacher Richard W. Scherer's interactions with students.  

The MCPS Investigation Specialists report included a statement written by a student that said:

• the children were scared,
• the children were being hit,
• the children were being pulled,
• the situation with their MCPS teacher, Richard W. Scherer, was getting out of hand.

Was the statement from the victim turned over to Child Protective Services?  Was the statement turned over to Montgomery County Police? 

Why was a teacher with known inappropriate interactions with children allowed to retire?  

Aren't inappropriate interactions with children an offense that would result in a MCPS employee being fired? Shouldn't this child's statement have been turned over to Child Protective Services and the Montgomery County Police? 

So far, there are FOUR MCPS employees who as MANDATORY REPORTERS should have reported instances of suspected sexual abuse of children to Montgomery County Police or Child Protective Services in 2011.  

Broad Acres Elementary Principal

Broad Acres Assistant Principal

MCPS Investigation Specialist

MCPS Associate Superintendent

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT I, Randall E. Garver, being duly sworn, depose and say: 

1. I am a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and entered on duty in May 2006. I am currently assigned to the Buffalo Field Office and work on cases associated with the Violent Crimes Against Children program, which targets individuals involved in the online sexual exploitation of children...

...One of the report’s addendums was a statement written by one of the students: that stated, “me and [redacted by MCPS] are scard (sic) at this point for the hugging, the hitting her the pulling us so we had to tell someone about this before this gets out of hand.”..

  More excerpts from the Affidavit will follow in separate posts on this blog.  

PART 6 - WHAT @mcps @mocoboe DID NOT DO in 2011: They did not FIRE a teacher with KNOWN Inappropriate Interactions with Elementary Students. Did they even Report to CPS or the Police?

@mcps @mocoboe Let's Review What You Knew About Former Broad Acres ES Teacher Richard W. Scherer Back in 2011 While We Wait for Your Official Statement.

The Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD has obtained a copy of the Criminal Complaint and the Affidavit in support of the criminal complaint in the arrest of former MCPS Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard Scherer. 

In Part 6 of our series on the information revealed by the FBI in their Criminal Complaint on former MCPS Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard W. Scherer the public learns that back in 2011, MCPS and the Board of Education initiated an internal investigation into teacher Richard W. Scherer's interactions with students.  

The MCPS Investigation Specialists report revealed that:

• on August 18, 2011, SCHERER received certain details of the MCPS investigation,

•  and that he submitted his retirement on September 1, 2011

MCPS and the Montgomery County Board of Education let TWO WEEKS go by after they informed Mr. Scherer of their investigation. 

In 2011, the first day of school for students was Monday, August 29th. 

Was the information that had been substantiated in the MCPS Investigation Specialists Report turned over to Child Protective Services?  Was the information turned over to Montgomery County Police? 

Why was a teacher with known inappropriate interactions with children allowed to retire?  

Aren't inappropriate interactions with children an offense that would result in a MCPS employee being fired?

So far, there are FOUR MCPS employees who as MANDATORY REPORTERS should have reported instances of suspected sexual abuse of children to Montgomery County Police or Child Protective Services in 2011.  

Broad Acres Elementary Principal

Broad Acres Assistant Principal

MCPS Investigation Specialist

MCPS Associate Superintendent

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT I, Randall E. Garver, being duly sworn, depose and say: 

1. I am a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and entered on duty in May 2006. I am currently assigned to the Buffalo Field Office and work on cases associated with the Violent Crimes Against Children program, which targets individuals involved in the online sexual exploitation of children...

...The [MCPS Investigation Specialists] report stated that on August 18, 2011, SCHERER received certain details of the MCPS investigation and that he submitted his retirement on September 1, 2011...

 More excerpts from the Affidavit will follow in separate posts on this blog.  

PART 5 - WHAT @mcps @mocoboe KNEW in 2011: MCPS substantiated that SCHERER rubbed the girls’ backs to see if they were wearing a bra, touched the girls’ thighs, commented on their breasts and periods, and asked the girls if they loved him.

@mcps @mocoboe Let's Review What You Knew About Former Broad Acres ES Teacher Richard Scherer Back in 2011 While We Wait for Your Official Statement.

The Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD has obtained a copy of the Criminal Complaint and the Affidavit in support of the criminal complaint in the arrest of former MCPS Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard Scherer. 

In Part 5 of our series on the information revealed by the FBI in their Criminal Complaint on former MCPS Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard W. Scherer the public learns that back in 2011, MCPS and the Board of Education initiated an internal investigation into teacher Richard W. Scherer's interactions with students.  

The MCPS Investigation Specialists report substantiated that:

• SCHERER rubbed the girls’ backs to see if they were wearing a bra,

• touched the girls’ thighs, 

• commented on their breasts and periods, 

• and asked the girls if they loved him.

So far, there are FOUR MCPS employees who as MANDATORY REPORTERS should have reported instances of suspected sexual abuse of children to Montgomery County Police or Child Protective Services in 2011.  

Broad Acres Elementary Principal

Broad Acres Assistant Principal

MCPS Investigation Specialist

MCPS Associate Superintendent

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT I, Randall E. Garver, being duly sworn, depose and say: 

1. I am a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and entered on duty in May 2006. I am currently assigned to the Buffalo Field Office and work on cases associated with the Violent Crimes Against Children program, which targets individuals involved in the online sexual exploitation of children...

...The [MCPS Investigation Specialist] document also substantiated that SCHERER rubbed the girls’ backs to see if they were wearing a bra, touched the girls’ thighs, commented on their breasts and periods, and asked the girls if they loved him...

 More excerpts from the Affidavit will follow in separate posts on this blog.  

 

PART 4 - WHAT @mcps @mocoboe KNEW in 2011: SCHERER took students to Cheesecake Factory, Movies, Miniature Golf. Trips with Students were CONFIRMED by MCPS Investigation. Were Police or CPS Notified?

@mcps @mocoboe Let's Review What You Knew About Former Broad Acres ES Teacher Richard Scherer Back in 2011 While We Wait for Your Official Statement.

The Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD has obtained a copy of the Criminal Complaint and the Affidavit in support of the criminal complaint in the arrest of former MCPS Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard Scherer. 

In Part 4 of our series on the information revealed by the FBI in their Criminal Complaint on former MCPS Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard W. Scherer the public learns that back in 2011, MCPS and the Board of Education knew that: 

• Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard Scherer had taken students to the Cheesecake Factory Restaurant, movies, and miniature golf. 

• MCPS Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard Scherer exchanged text messages and Facebook messages with students. 

• MCPS ordered an internal investigation into Richard Scherer's interactions with students.

• The MCPS internal investigation substantiated the information that had been gathered in the report.  That is, the students were telling the truth about MCPS Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard Scherer's interactions with them. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT I, Randall E. Garver, being duly sworn, depose and say: 

1. I am a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and entered on duty in May 2006. I am currently assigned to the Buffalo Field Office and work on cases associated with the Violent Crimes Against Children program, which targets individuals involved in the online sexual exploitation of children...

...The same report continued with the principal learning that SCHERER also took both middle school girls to the Cheesecake Factory and exchanged text and Facebook messages. The report then stated that on June 14, 2011, the MCPS ordered the investigation and on June 15, 2011, the District placed SCHERER on administrative leave. The document then discussed how MCPS substantiated the information detailed herein, including trips with the students to restaurants, movies, and miniature golf...

So far, there are FOUR MCPS employees who as MANDATORY REPORTERS should have reported instances of suspected sexual abuse of children to Montgomery County Police or Child Protective Services in 2011.  

Broad Acres Elementary Principal

Broad Acres Assistant Principal

MCPS Investigation Specialist

MCPS Associate Superintendent

More excerpts from the Affidavit will follow in separate posts on this blog.  

PART 3 - WHAT @mcps @mocoboe KNEW in 2011: More Potential Victims - SCHERER remarked “your boobs are growing”, SCHERER [told sister], “I love you” and kissed the...hand, SCHERER texts with this student’s older sister and messaged the older sister on Facebook

@mcps @mocoboe Let's Review What You Knew About Former Broad Acres ES Teacher Richard Scherer Back in 2011 While We Wait for Your Official Statement.

The Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD has obtained a copy of the Criminal Complaint and the Affidavit in support of the criminal complaint in the arrest of former MCPS Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard Scherer. 

• In this part of the Affidavit the public learns that the Broad Acres Elementary School Principal spoke to the friend of the first student that filed a complaint.  

• In this part of the Affidavit it is revealed that the older sister of this student was also a potential victim of Richard W. Scherer. 

• Mr. Scherer is alleged to have texted and sent Facebook messages to the older sister. 

Now, there are FOUR MCPS employees who as MANDATORY REPORTERS should have reported this alleged sexual abuse to Montgomery County Police or Child Protective Services in 2011.  

Broad Acres Elementary Principal

Broad Acres Assistant Principal

MCPS Investigation Specialist

MCPS Associate Superintendent

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT I, Randall E. Garver, being duly sworn, depose and say: 

1. I am a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and entered on duty in May 2006. I am currently assigned to the Buffalo Field Office and work on cases associated with the Violent Crimes Against Children program, which targets individuals involved in the online sexual exploitation of children...

...The same report continued by stating that the school principal told the MCPS investigator that spoke to the friend (the other student) who told the principal that SCHERER hugs her and touches her thigh. SCHERER remarked “your boobs are growing” to the middle school aged older sister of the same student. The girl told the principal she heard SCHERER tell the same middle school aged sister, “I love you” and kissed the older sister’s hand. The report stated that SCHERER texts with this student’s older sister and messaged the older sister on Facebook to have her friend “wear a tank top so that he can see how much her boobs have grown.” SCHERER asked one of the middle school aged girls if she got her period yet. The student told the principal that her middle school aged sister once took her sweater off in SCHERER’s classroom before putting it back on when she felt uncomfortable; “Mr. Scherer told her in a strict way to take it off.”..

 More excerpts from the Affidavit will follow in separate posts on this blog.  

Part 2 - WHAT @mcps @mocoboe KNEW in 2011: "SCHERER has lunch with a particular student, “he pulls her to him and hugs her, that he has patted her rear end and hips, and that he pressures her to each lunch with him.' "

@mcps @mocoboe Let's Review What You Knew About Former Broad Acres ES Teacher Richard Scherer Back in 2011 While We Wait for Your Official Statement.

The Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD has obtained a copy of the Criminal Complaint and the Affidavit in support of the criminal complaint in the arrest of former MCPS Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard Scherer.

• In the Affidavit the public learns that the parent of a 4th Grade student came to Broad Acres Elementary School (the only MCPS school Richard W. Scherer worked at according to MCPS) on June 13, 2011, to make a report about inappropriate behavior on the part of Mr. Scherer.

• The parent made the complaint to the Broad Acres Elementary School Assistant Principal.  

• The Board of Education KNOWS THE NAME OF THE PARENT who filed the complaint. 

• The Board of Education allowed MCPS to do their OWN INVESTIGATION of these allegations. An MCPS Investigation Specialist investigated and wrote a report.

• The MCPS Investigation Specialist's Report was sent to a MCPS ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT.

• Why did the Board of Education allow MCPS to do their own investigation when educators are MANDATORY REPORTERS in Maryland and Montgomery County Police and Child Protective Services should have been notified IMMEDIATELY.  

How many other sexual abuse allegations did MCPS INVESTIGATION SPECIALISTS investigate without contacting Montgomery County Police or Child Protective Services? 

Potential victims of these alleged crimes would now be around 19 years old. Some could still be in a MCPS high school.

So far, there were THREE MCPS employees who as MANDATORY REPORTERS should have reported this alleged sexual abuse to Montgomery County Police or Child Protective Services in 2011.  

Broad Acres Elementary Assistant Principal

MCPS Investigation Specialist

MCPS Associate Superintendent

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT I, Randall E. Garver, being duly sworn, depose and say: 

1. I am a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and entered on duty in May 2006. I am currently assigned to the Buffalo Field Office and work on cases associated with the Violent Crimes Against Children program, which targets individuals involved in the online sexual exploitation of children...

...During my review, I found an August 22, 2011, memorandum authored by an MCPS Investigation Specialist that was sent to one of MCPS’s Associate Superintendents. The memo was a summary, with attachments, of the MCPS investigation. The report stated, “On June 13, 2011, the parent of a 4th grade student, [redacted by MCPS], came to the school and made a report to an assistant principal about some concerns she had regarding possible inappropriate behavior by Mr. Scherer while interacting with students.” The report stated that the student related that when SCHERER has lunch with a particular student, “he pulls her to him and hugs her, that he has patted her rear end and hips, and that he pressures her to each lunch with him.” The parent advised that her daughter and the daughter’s friend are often pressured to each lunch with SCHERER...

More excerpts from the Affidavit will follow in separate posts on this blog.  

Part 1 - @mcps @mocoboe Let's Review What You Knew About Former Broad Acres ES Teacher Richard Scherer Back in 2011 While We Wait for Your Official Statement.

The Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD has obtained a copy of the Criminal Complaint and the Affidavit in support of the criminal complaint in the arrest of former MCPS Broad Acres Elementary School teacher Richard Scherer.  

The first thing we learn from this Affidavit is that a Grand Jury met and subpoenaed Richard Scherer's employment records from Montgomery County Public Schools.  MCPS responded to that subpoena on July 20, 2021.

Below is our first excerpt from the Affidavit.  

More excerpts from the Affidavit will follow in separate posts on this blog.    

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT I, Randall E. Garver, being duly sworn, depose and say: 

1. I am a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and entered on duty in May 2006. I am currently assigned to the Buffalo Field Office and work on cases associated with the Violent Crimes Against Children program, which targets individuals involved in the online sexual exploitation of children. As part of these duties, I have become involved in the investigation of suspected violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251, 2252, 2252A, 2422, 2423, and 2261. I have also participated in various FBI mandated and volunteer training for the investigation and enforcement of federal child pornography laws, Sexual Enticement, Travel to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct, and Cyberstalking laws in which computers or smartphones/devices are used for engaging in such violations of Federal law.

On July 20, 2021, pursuant to a Grand Jury subpoena issued in the Western District of New York, Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools (MCPS) provided records relating to SCHERER’s employment.