WASHINGTON — A Montgomery County school security worker is facing charges after police say he had inappropriate sexual contact with a 14-year-old student.
Police arrested 21-year-old Mike Lievano Sunday night after they say he had a sexual relationship with the student at Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School, in Silver Spring, where he worked as a security employee since February 2017.
Lievano and the 14-year-old engaged in inappropriate sexual contact at her home and his home for more than a month starting in late March. Both the teen and Lievano have admitted to some of the allegations, the police said.
This marks the second time in a two-month period a Montgomery County school security employee has been accused of having a sexual relationship with a student. In April, 57-year-old Mark Yantsos, the security team leader at Richard Montgomery High School, was charged with the sexual abuse of a student. School officials said Yantsos engaged in an ongoing sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl at the school.
Montgomery County Public School administrators placed Lievano on administrative leave as soon as they learned of the allegations. Principal Kimberly Hayden Williams wrote in a letter to students and their families that the charges are “troubling and completely unacceptable.”
“The charges represent a violation of the core values of our school and school system. This behavior does not reflect the principles of MCPS or our community and it will not be tolerated,” Williams wrote in the letter.
Lievano turned himself in to police Sunday night and is being charged with sexual abuse of a minor, one count of third-degree sex offense and one count of fourth-degree sex offense. He is being held on a $10,000 bond.
In addition to his security job at the middle school, Lievano served as a part-time security assistant at Rockville High School from Sept. 8, 2015, until Feb, 12, 2016, Williams said. Anyone who thinks his or her child may have been victimized by Lievano in a similar way can call the police at 240-773-5400.
Psychologists, counselors and pupil personnel workers from MCPS will be at Lee Middle School Tuesday and will be available, as needed, to provide counseling and support to students.
“MCPS remains committed to the safety of our students,” said Superintendent Jack Smith in a news release. “We have developed and implemented staff training on preventing, recognizing and reporting child abuse as well as a curriculum on personal body safety for students at all grade levels. We will continue to take every appropriate measure to ensure our schools are safe and welcoming places to learn for students.”
