Principal tells parents of student’s in-school molestation in letter

WASHINGTON — Nearly a month after a contract worker was accused of sexually assaulting a middle school student while in school, the principal has sent a letter home to parents.

The principal at John T. Baker Middle School in Damascus, Maryland, tells parents in a letter dated Nov. 3 that a temporary contract worker was arrested for “inappropriately touching” a student. The girl’s parents and police were notified Oct. 6.

But the rest of the school community wasn’t told.

Dana Tofig, spokesman for Montgomery County Public Schools, wrote in an email Sunday that because it was an isolated incident, a letter wasn’t sent home to all parents at that time.

Now, citing media reports, including a report by WTOP, Principal Louise Worthington has invited parents to a Wednesday meeting from 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and says she’ll answer questions or concerns.

The contract worker, 44-year-old John Epps Jr. of Fort Washington, Maryland, has been charged with a 4th-degree sex offense as well as assault in the case.

Baker Middle School Letter Re: Oct. 6, 2014 arrest by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.

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