FORMER MCPS MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER SENTENCED TO 50 YEARS IN PRISON Maxwell Bero, 31, of Point of Rocks, Md., was sentenced to 50 years in prison, with all but eight years suspended

Maxwell Bero, 31, of Point of Rocks, Md., was sentenced to 50 years in prison, with all but eight years suspended, after he pleaded guilty to two counts of sex abuse of a minor.

Friday, Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge David Boynton sentenced Bero on the two felony counts. Bero will be on supervised probation for an additional five years and will be listed on the sex offender register for the rest of his life.

The two victims, both eighth graders at the time, were in Bero’s care and custody as his role as a middle school teacher at Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School in Silver Spring.

According to the court statement of charges, on July 28, 2020 the Montgomery County Police Special Victims began an investigation on events in 2014 and 2015 concerning two eighth graders...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/former-mcps-middle-school-teacher-sentenced-to-50-years-in-prison/?fbclid=IwAR1BPCw-vpraRxTLwAFh4MCMmd5-lYIX62OU9sgu24Iu_cbAE-70fQks6fg

EX-CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE PLEADS GUILTY #EBrookeLeeMiddleSchool

Maxwell Bero, a Watkins Mill High School teacher who last year ran against Rep. David Trone for Congress, pleaded guilty this week to sexually abusing a 14-year-old student in 2014 and 2015...

https://marylandreporter.com/2021/04/12/state-roundup-as-90-day-session-comes-to-a-close-lawmakers-overturn-hogan-vetoes-on-police-reform-juvenile-justice/

During his own bachelor party, teacher sent nude photo of himself to eighth-grader, police say

...“We have had contact with additional potential victims,” said Capt. Amy Daum, director of the police department’s Special Victims Investigations Division. “We encourage others to come forward as well.”..

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/during-his-own-bachelor-party-teacher-sent-nude-photo-of-himself-to-eighth-grader-police-say/2020/08/27/45490ea4-e8a8-11ea-bc79-834454439a44_story.html

School Teacher Arrested for Inappropriate Sexual Contact with Student; Possibility of Additional Victims a Concern

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) have arrested and charged Maxwell Alexander Bero, age 30, of Gate Rail Road in Clarskburg, with offenses related to his inappropriate sexual contact with a fourteen-year-old female.  The offenses occurred from August 2014 to June 2015, when the female victim was an eighth-grade student and Bero was her teacher at the Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School in Silver Spring.  The sexual interactions occurred after school hours on school property.

On July 28, 2020, SVID detectives began an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse of the (now 19-year-old) victim by Bero.  Detectives learned that during the 2014-2015 school year, Bero engaged in inappropriate sexual contact and exchanged inappropriate sexual materials and messages with the juvenile victim/student.

Earlier today, August 26, Bero was served with an arrest warrant charging him with offenses to include sexual abuse of a minor and multiple counts of committing a third-degree sexual offense. He was transported to the Central Processing Unit. Bond information is not available at this time.

Detectives are concerned there may be additional victims of Bero and are asking anyone who believes that he/she is a victim to call SVID detectives at 240-773-5400.

Bero’s current teaching assignment is at Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg.  Bero has been placed on administrative leave by the school system.  Inquiries regarding his employment should be directed to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).

Bravo to this former MCPS Student for Speaking Up! Another arrest of a MCPS teacher for a sex offense. Board of Education Continues Their Silence on These Arrests and Convictions. No Support for the Victims from Board of Education.

Please note that this announcement to the public was written by Derek G. Turner, the former public information officer for MCPS, Mr. Turner is now one of 3 administrators running MCPS.  Superintendent Jack R. Smith promoted Mr. Turner from the position of public information officer to administrator in charge of 1/3 of MCPS.  

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Dear Parents and Guardians:

I am writing to inform you about the arrest of Mr. Maxwell Bero, a Watkins Mill High School teacher, head boys’ varsity lacrosse coach and assistant varsity football coach, on charges of sex abuse of a minor and multiple counts of third-degree sex offense. The charges stem from alleged inappropriate sexual contact between Mr. Bero and a former Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) student while Mr. Bero was employed at Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School during the 2014-2015 school year.

MCPS is fully cooperating with law enforcement on this matter. Mr. Bero has been placed on administrative leave.

Mr. Bero has been employed with MCPS since 2009. He worked as a substitute teacher at various MCPS schools from 2009 to 2013. In 2013, he worked as a long-term substitute at Wheaton High School and also served as head boys’ varsity lacrosse coach and assistant varsity football coach. He worked at Lee Middle School from 2013 to 2016, and has worked as a social studies teacher at Watkins Mill High School since 2016.

These charges are deeply concerning and unacceptable and represent a complete breach of trust, responsibility, integrity and the law. We hold our employees to a high standard of character and these allegations violate that. Please know that the safety of our students is our top priority and we are committed to ensuring we maintain a safe learning environment for all.

Counseling staff will be available to connect with students virtually and provide any needed counseling or support this week. Students who may need to speak with someone can reach out to their school’s counseling office for support. 

If you or your child has any information that may be helpful to the investigation, please call the Special Victims Investigations Division of the Montgomery County Police Department at 240-773-5400.

Derek G. Turner
Chief of Engagement, Innovation, and Operations
Montgomery County Public Schools

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Estimados padres, guardianes, miembros del personal y estudiantes,

Les escribo para informarles sobre el arresto del Sr. Maxwell Bero, maestro de Watkins Mill High School, entrenador de lacrosse y asistente del entrenador de fútbol americano, acusado de abuso sexual de un menor y múltiples cargos de delitos sexuales en tercer grado. Los cargos radican en un presunto contacto sexual inapropiado entre el Sr. Bero y un ex alumno de Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) mientras el Sr. Bero trabajaba en Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School durante el ciclo escolar 2014‒2015.

MCPS está cooperando plenamente con las autoridades de seguridad en este caso. El Sr. Bero ha sido puesto en licencia administrativa.

El Sr. Bero trabaja en MCPS desde el 2009. Trabajó como maestro suplente en varias escuelas de MCPS del 2009 al 2013. En el 2013, trabajó como suplente a largo plazo en Wheaton High School y también se desempeñó como entrenador titular de lacrosse masculino y como asistente del entrenador de fútbol americano. Él trabajó en Lee Middle School del 2013 al 2016, y ha trabajado como maestro de estudios sociales en Watkins Mill High School desde 2016.

Estos cargos son profundamente alarmantes e inaceptables y representan una total violación de la confianza, la responsabilidad, la integridad y la ley. Nosotros exigimos de nuestros empleados un alto nivel de conducta y estas acusaciones son una violación de eso. Por favor sepan que la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes es nuestra mayor prioridad y estamos comprometidos a asegurarnos de mantener un entorno de aprendizaje seguro para todos.

Los consejeros escolares estarán disponibles para conectarse con los estudiantes virtualmente y proporcionarles cualquier asesoramiento o apoyo que necesiten esta semana. Los estudiantes que necesiten hablar con alguien pueden acudir a la oficina de los consejeros escolares de su escuela para recibir apoyo.

Si usted o su hijo tienen alguna información que pueda ser útil a la investigación, por favor llame a la División de Investigaciones de Víctimas Especiales del Departamento de Policía del Condado de Montgomery, teléfono 240-773-5400.