WASHINGTON – Montgomery County police say that nine more girls have come forward saying they had inappropriate interactions with a substitute teacher who already faces multiple charges that he sexually abused four other students.
And investigators want to hear from any other students who may have been victimized by Jose Pineda, 50, who substitute taught at 20 different Montgomery County schools over 111 days during the past year, police said Thursday.
“He’s had opportunity and a lot of access to young people,” said Captain Paul Starks with the Montgomery County Police Department.
Pineda worked as a substitute teacher at the elementary, middle and high school levels and filled in for a variety of subjects including biology, technology and special education classes.
The nine girls told police that Pineda touched them during the school day. Police determined that these touching incidents were not criminal violations. However investigators say their reports play an important part and have fueled the case against Pineda.
All nine incidents occurred this year at Ridgeview and Gaithersburg middle schools.
Pineda, who remains in police custody, has been fired from the county school system. He worked for the system as a bus driver from 2000 to 2003, as a substitute teacher from 2003 to 2006 and again from March 2013 until September.
Police are working to account for Pineda’s whereabouts during the years he was not working for Montgomery County Public Schools.
Pineda was arrested in October on one count of third-degree sex offense and sexual abuse of a minor. He is charged with touching a girl in a classroom at Roberto Clemente Middle School in September.
Since that initial report, three other students have come forward with similar complaints – including one who says she was victimized in 2004. He is also charged with three counts of third-degree sex offense and three counts of sexual abuse of a minor.
Anyone with information about Pineda or who may have been a victim is asked to call the special victims investigative division at 240-773-5400.
Related Stories:
- Subsitute teacher charged with more sex offenses
- MCPS: Students come forward after substitute teacher charged
- Principal apologizes for delay in notifying parents of sex-offense allegations
WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on Facebook.
