Student Charged With Sexually Assaulting 15-Year-Old Girl At High School In Howard County
FULTON, Md. (WJZ) — A 16-year-old boy has been charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old student at Reservoir High School in Fulton.
The victim reported she agreed to meet the suspect in a bathroom during school hours on November 11, but did not consent to sexual activity.
She said that he forcibly sexually assaulted her, despite her protests.
The girl said she reported the incident to a school counselor, and police were notified to begin an investigation.
"It's important to note that the victim in this case really did the right thing," Howard County Police spokesperson Sherry Llewellyn said. "She immediately went to a school counselor to report what happened, and we would certainly encourage any other student or person in a situation like that to go to someone trusted and make a report."
The boy has been charged with second-degree rape, second-degree assault and fourth-degree sex offense.
Howard County Police are not releasing his identity at this time.
He was taken into custody at his home Wednesday morning and is not expected to return to the school until the investigation is complete, as part of Howard County Public Schools policy.
Parents, including Melanie Riley, said they're devastated by what happened at the school. Her daughter Ray Anne is a sophomore at another high school in the county.
"I'm horrified, I'm mortified, it makes me sick, it makes me sad, it's heartbreaking," she said.
Parents told WJZ the school sent home a letter to families explaining what happened.
Riley said she's now having a serious conversation with her daughter about the incident.
"All I can say is that when somebody says no, you take it back to being a toddler: no means no, period," she said.
Principal Nelda Sims said in a statement, in part, "The well-being of every RHS student is of the utmost importance. I know that there will be conversations in our communities and on social media, and I encourage everybody to refrain from disseminating rumors or information that was not provided publicly by police."