Former Counselor Accused Of Sexual Abuse At Fort Meade To Face Judge
FORT MEADE, Md. (WJZ) -- Facing a judge. A man who worked with children is accused of sex abuse inside the Fort Meade military base. He will appear in court Friday on charges he abused two boys.
Investigators fear there could be more victims.
Meghan McCorkell has details from the prosecutors.
Officials at Fort Meade held a meeting for parents Thursday night for parents after a youth instructor was arrested in an FBI investigation.
Anthony Dennis Williams, 27, was a counselor at the Fort Meade Youth Center for eight years. But investigators say the man who taught a class called "Passport to Manhood" preyed on young boys.
Two victims have come forward saying Williams sexually abused them in the attic of the center. Investigators say he also exchanged explicit text messages and graphic pictures with the boys.
"It was the mother of one of these children who discovered suspicious text messages. Followed up, contacted the authorities," says U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein.
In one exchange found on Williams' phone, he asks the child about the alleged abuse, saying: "But can I ask you, what got you to the point where you wanted to go along with it?" The alleged victim responds: "Ummmm.. stupidly I guess."
Now prosecutors are trying to figure out if there are more victims.
"We want to make sure we reach out to the parents of the children who were in contact with that suspect and make sure that they ask the tough questions and find out if there may be anything that happened to them," said Rosenstein.
Officials at Fort Meade have set up a 24-hour call center for any parents that have concerns.
In a statement, Army leaders say: "Our priorities are to ensure the families involved in the alleged incidents are receiving the support they need and that we continue to fully assist the FBI with their ongoing investigation."
Williams stopped working at the youth center in 2012.
Williams is charged with sexually abusing a minor on federal property. He faces a maximum of 15 years behind bars.
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