How does this guy still have a job? Reassigned?

vince77

Active Member
Stoddert Principal Reassigned Due to Bell Sex Crimes Case
Posted on July 31, 2017

By Charles Co. Public Schools Press Release

LA PLATA, Md. (July 31, 2017)—Benjamin Stoddert Middle School Principal Kenneth Schroeck was reassigned today to the Charles County Public Schools Office of Supporting Services. Marvin Jones, executive director of schools, will serve as Stoddert's interim principal effective immediately.

Schroeck's reassignment follows today's release of additional information learned as part of an investigation of Carlos Bell, a former instructional assistant at Stoddert. Charles County State's Attorney Tony Covington released a 119-count indictment charging Bell with multiple counts of sexual abuse and other crimes against children. Bell was formerly charged by the Charles County State's Attorney's Office on July 3 with charges of production of child pornography and assault.

Jones will work with the administrative team at Stoddert to ensure a smooth opening of school for students, staff, parents and the Stoddert community. Jones will also lead the next Stoddert parent meeting set for 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 16.

Stoddert staff and parents were notified this afternoon of the change.
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
Principal Schroeck was reassigned; the sex abuser was Carlos Bell, a teacher's aide.
 

BernieP

Resident PIA
Schroeck's reassignment follows today's release of additional information learned as part of an investigation of Carlos Bell

It may be the implication that the principal knew more and chose not to step in sooner.

My gut tells me that Mr. Schroeck felt he was in a no win situation and opted to ignore it and hope it would go away.
 

NorthBeachPerso

Honorary SMIB
It may be the implication that the principal knew more and chose not to step in sooner.

My gut tells me that Mr. Schroeck felt he was in a no win situation and opted to ignore it and hope it would go away.

If that's the case, and I doubt it, as a mandatory reporter he can be criminally charged.
 

BernieP

Resident PIA
If that's the case, and I doubt it, as a mandatory reporter he can be criminally charged.

If I recall this was a hot topic on T-Bone & Heather. Some parents claimed the school knew much earlier than then let the public know.
But they had only the allegations, no evidence. That took a long time to come back from the state police (another topic in that discussion)
Once the charges were being filed, they notified parents and the community at large.

Again, my gut is the principal may be the scapegoat for following "procedure" and being caught in in that limbo, protecting his legal rights (and the school systems ass from being sued) and parents who are upset they didn't find out sooner. Legally I don't think he has a problem as I understand they did contact authorities and moved him out of the classroom. They then had to wait on the investigation, which required the state police to search his computer.
 

inkah

Active Member
If I recall this was a hot topic on T-Bone & Heather. Some parents claimed the school knew much earlier than then let the public know.
But they had only the allegations, no evidence. That took a long time to come back from the state police (another topic in that discussion)
Once the charges were being filed, they notified parents and the community at large.

Again, my gut is the principal may be the scapegoat for following "procedure" and being caught in in that limbo, protecting his legal rights (and the school systems ass from being sued) and parents who are upset they didn't find out sooner. Legally I don't think he has a problem as I understand they did contact authorities and moved him out of the classroom. They then had to wait on the investigation, which required the state police to search his computer.

These kinds of investigations really are horrible for victims/potential victims since the perp is left free and those in the know have to keep the secret while they try to sneak information/evidence. Really, parents SHOULD be furious about the process - both of the school system AND the legal system. It is horrific for the children.
 

BernieP

Resident PIA
These kinds of investigations really are horrible for victims/potential victims since the perp is left free and those in the know have to keep the secret while they try to sneak information/evidence. Really, parents SHOULD be furious about the process - both of the school system AND the legal system. It is horrific for the children.

It's called due process and it's the foundation of our legal system, if you were accused of something you would rather like it this way.
The suspect is just that, suspect, until they are charged. To charge the suspect they need evidence, or when their case goes to trial they will lose.
In this case (as I recall), the state police cyber lab takes a while to process a computer, it's not CSI or any other TV show. Resources are limited.
As far as I know, he was removed from the classroom. Some parents were notified, the majority were not.
A lot of people called in that day, most angry. But apparently one school employee called in and laid the facts on the timeline out. I think finding out the date of the first report pissed people off since it took a month for anyone outside the school to hear about it.
Then again, I do believe the States Attorney and Sheriff's department were notified.

The problem is you can't ruin someone's life over a false accusation, not like people don't ever make things up because they are angry.
One of the things that worries me about certain workplace type things is "EEO " or "hostile workplace" complaints are required to be taken seriously.
This has been interpreted by most government agencies as guilty until proven innocent. Those accused are subject to interrogation, rule of law does not apply since it's not criminal law.
If anyone dares question the accuser, even suggest they take some time to reconsider what they are doing, they too can lose their job.
 

inkah

Active Member
It's called due process and it's the foundation of our legal system, if you were accused of something you would rather like it this way.
The suspect is just that, suspect, until they are charged. To charge the suspect they need evidence, or when their case goes to trial they will lose.
In this case (as I recall), the state police cyber lab takes a while to process a computer, it's not CSI or any other TV show. Resources are limited.
As far as I know, he was removed from the classroom. Some parents were notified, the majority were not.
A lot of people called in that day, most angry. But apparently one school employee called in and laid the facts on the timeline out. I think finding out the date of the first report pissed people off since it took a month for anyone outside the school to hear about it.
Then again, I do believe the States Attorney and Sheriff's department were notified.

The problem is you can't ruin someone's life over a false accusation, not like people don't ever make things up because they are angry.
One of the things that worries me about certain workplace type things is "EEO " or "hostile workplace" complaints are required to be taken seriously.
This has been interpreted by most government agencies as guilty until proven innocent. Those accused are subject to interrogation, rule of law does not apply since it's not criminal law.
If anyone dares question the accuser, even suggest they take some time to reconsider what they are doing, they too can lose their job.

Oh, you have no argument from me that these practices (and even things like slow computer processing - which isn't really a part of the due process) protect the accused.

In case you missed it, my concerns were for the victims. All the time spent on red tape, slow computers (and maybe even lazy/sloppy investigators??), children are in danger. And in an effort to build a solid case and protect the guilty (you know, they are still guilty if they've committed the act even if they don't have a legal status to say so, right?), parents don't even know their children are in danger. I don't blame those parents AT ALL for being outraged!

Regardless of how important this stuff has to be to protect the innocent, my point was to the innocent that are not protected and continue to be harmed.
 

NorthBeachPerso

Honorary SMIB
By COMAR and MSDE mandate when an abuse complaint against a student contact school employee is received that individual is required to be immediately removed from student contact status.

Not the end of the period, not the end of the day but immediately. As in right now.

The investigation then commences but the individual is not in student contact situations.

I saw that play out numerous times over thirty years. In all but a couple cases the accusations were determined to be unfounded.

In one case the parents weren't happy so the Principal allowed them to conduct their own investigation when the official one was over. That Principal was an idiot.
 

vince77

Active Member
Bell now faces 119 counts for crimes he is accused of committing over the course of more than two years, from May 2015 to June 2017 (24 students). Some of this abuse was committed on school property. What did the principal know and when did he know it? This isn't going away. If you ever suspect your child has been a crime victim at school, never, ever, go the the school administration, go directly to the police.
 

officeguy

Well-Known Member
The problem is you can't ruin someone's life over a false accusation, not like people don't ever make things up because they are angry.
One of the things that worries me about certain workplace type things is "EEO " or "hostile workplace" complaints are required to be taken seriously.
This has been interpreted by most government agencies as guilty until proven innocent. Those accused are subject to interrogation, rule of law does not apply since it's not criminal law.
If anyone dares question the accuser, even suggest they take some time to reconsider what they are doing, they too can lose their job.

Just look at the teacher at Lackey who was accused of abuse last year. Jury found him not guilty, his career is ruined anyway.

https://smnewsnet.com/archives/421713/charles-county-high-school-teacher-found-not-guilty/
 

awpitt

Main Streeter
By COMAR and MSDE mandate when an abuse complaint against a student contact school employee is received that individual is required to be immediately removed from student contact status.

Not the end of the period, not the end of the day but immediately. As in right now.

The investigation then commences but the individual is not in student contact situations.

I saw that play out numerous times over thirty years. In all but a couple cases the accusations were determined to be unfounded.

In one case the parents weren't happy so the Principal allowed them to conduct their own investigation when the official one was over. That Principal was an idiot.

If you'd read all of the relevant reports, you'd know that Bell was immediately reassigned as a result of the first complaint.
 

awpitt

Main Streeter
I know that but a couple people are making it sound like he wasn't and that the Principal sat on the complaint.

The initial complaint came from the parents of a student at La Plata H.S. where Bell was assistant coach. The cases at the middle school didn't come out until after the investigation was underway.
 

BernieP

Resident PIA
I know that but a couple people are making it sound like he wasn't and that the Principal sat on the complaint.

The complaints I heard on the radio went more towards parent notification. The principal didn't sit on the complaint, he followed the rules.
I'm suggesting his reassignment is to appeased butt hurt parents who weren't informed on day 1.
 
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