A former Maryland school aide and high school track coach has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting several male students and capturing the abuse on video, local police said.
Carlos Deangelo Bell, 30, is accused of molesting at least seven boys, most of whom are of middle-school age, on school property and even at his home, Charles County Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Diane Richardson announced this week. Bell informed investigators that he’s HIV positive.
USA TODAY Sports reported that the former teacher was arrested at his home Friday, June 30, and indicted on three charges of producing child pornography and two counts of second-degree assault. Officials said more charges are expected in the ongoing investigation.
Police launched a probe into the teacher nearly six months ago after a parent expressed concern about “electronic messages” between Bell and her son. Richardson said Bell was terminated from his jobs as an instructional assistant at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School and as indoor track coach at nearby La Plata High School when the investigation started in December.
Only a few of the boys have been tested for HIV, but the others are expected to be tested soon, according to CNN. So far, none of the tests have come back positive.
Charles County Schools Superintendent Kimberly A. Hill said Bell hasn’t worked at any of its schools since Dec. 22, 2016.
“Student safety is job one, and clearly we have work to do to determine where we fell short in this instance, and how we can ensure that this will never happen again,” Hill told USA TODAY Sports in an emailed statement. “Our immediate attention will be focused on providing support to any students that may have been affected by Mr. Bell’s actions.”
Authorities have urged anyone whose child might have had contact with Bell to speak with them about the matter. An FBI phone line (1-800-CALL-FBI) has even been established for those with concerns about their children related to the case, the news site reported.
In addition to the sexual abuse, investigators also discovered evidence of child pornography on his personal computer. Richard said authorities sent Bell’s electronic devices from work and from home to the Maryland State Police crime lab, which found sexually explicit photos involving the young boys.
“Some of the evidence … included graphic images of Bell sexually assaulting victims,” Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry said at a press conference Monday, June 3. “Some of the crimes appeared to have been committed on school property, and others at his home in Waldorf.”
Charles County Public Schools sent a letter to school district staff members and parents pledging to cooperate with the investigation and offer support services to students who were allegedly assaulted by Bell.
“I am alarmed and saddened by these alleged incidents, some of which occurred at school,” Hill wrote. “Student safety is job one, and clearly we have work to do to determine where we fell short in this instance, and how we can ensure that this will never happen again.”
Bell is being held at the Charles County Detention Center with no bond.
