WASHINGTON — A Prince George’s County high school track coach has been arrested and accused of having what the police chief called an “extraordinarily inappropriate” relationship with a 16-year-old athlete.
The Prince George’s County police said Wednesday afternoon that Charles Wolford, 23, of Hyattsville, Maryland, was arrested and charged with sexual abuse of a minor, second-degree assault and fourth-degree sex offense by a person in position of authority.
Wolford is a track coach at Fairmont Heights High School, in Hyattsville, and a teacher’s assistant at Gladys N. Spellman Elementary School, in Cheverly. He has been a school employee for about four and a half years, Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said, and has no prior criminal record.
Stawinski said the police acted quickly once they and the school department received a report from a parent.
“The events that led to criminal charges occurred within the last seven days,” he said, and Wolford was arrested within 24 hours of the police and the school system receiving a report about the accusations. “This is not a long, drawn-out process,” the chief said.
There is no reason yet to believe that there are more victims, Stawinski said, but if any parents had concerns about any other inappropriate relationships, they should call the police at 301-772-4908.
“Be nosy about what your children are doing” on smartphones and social media, Stawinski said.
In a letter to parents, Fairmont Heights Principal Torrie Walker said, “We have cooperated fully with law enforcement in its investigation. Due to the nature of the claims, Prince George’s County Public Schools CEO Kevin Maxwell has recommended termination of Mr. Wolford’s employment. Behavior that brings harm to a student will not be tolerated.”
