ROCKVILLE, Md. — The security chief at Richard Montgomery High School has been sentenced to 18 months in jail as part of a plea agreement after admitting to a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student.
Mark Yantsos, a 58-year-old married father, admitted last month he had engaged in the illegal relationship with a student, even after being warned several times in writing by the Montgomery County Public School System.
Yantsos pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor, which carries a statutory maximum penalty of 25 years.
Prosecutor Hannah Gleason told the judge the mental health expert who had interviewed Yantsos said “through the defendant’s eye, this was a magical love story.”
Gleason said the victim and her parents had declined to participate in the prosecution.
Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Michael Mason took note of the victim’s choice to not assist in the prosecution, but said she had been abused by a trusted person of authority.
“The victim, at some point, when she’s ready for it, will require years of treatment,” said Mason, citing findings of a mental health expert who has talked with the victim.
Under the plea agreement, the prosecution and defense said, Yantsos’ sentence would be capped at 18 months, far less than the four or five years generally issued in a similar case.
“I am troubled by your inability to have insight into the exploitive nature of this relationship,” Mason told Yantsos. “I’m not sure how you were able to ignore she was 17 — 40 years your junior.”
Making matters worse, according to the judge, is that Yantsos committed the crime in conjunction with his job as security chief at the Rockville school.
“Your position was to protect children from people like yourself,” Mason told Yantsos, who nodded slightly, in the affirmative.
Despite the victim’s choice to not participate in the prosecution, Mason said the blame for the relationship belonged to Yantsos.
“This is solely on you,” Mason said.
Yantsos answered “no, sir, your honor,” when asked if he wanted to address the court.
Mason sentenced Yantsos to 20 years, suspending all but 18 months, followed by five years of supervised probation.
Yantsos will be required to register as a convicted sex offender, and have no contact with any minor except his biological child.
“You will have no employment that involves children,” admonished Mason, who also ordered Yantsos to have no contact with the victim in this case, or her family.
Yantsos was placed on administrative leave in April and fired June 20.
Asked for details about the written warnings issued to Yantsos, and why he was allowed to continue to work for the school system, Derek Turner, director of communications for Montgomery County Public Schools said in a statement:
Our thoughts remain with the victim and her family in this case. The behavior of Mr. Yantsos is completely unacceptable and goes against the core values of our school system. As our Superintendent noted at the time of the arrest, “any adult who abuses their position and takes advantage of our students has no place in our schools or community.”
MCPS is committed to the safety of our students and is reviewing this matter. A notice of claim (a precursor to civil litigation) has been filed regarding this matter. Therefore, in accordance with our standing practice, we cannot provide further comment at this time.
