Prince George’s County child porn scandal rocks parents

About 700 parents, guardians, and students packed the Judge Sylvania Woods Elementary School in Glenarden, Maryland Feb. 11 seeking answers about the arrest of a school aide for child pornography and sexual abuse allegations.
According to Prince George’s County Police, Deonte Lavell Carraway, 22, taped at least 17 child victims ranging from 9 to 13 years old. Police are still searching for more victims. Detectives also uncovered about 40 videos showing the victims performing sexual acts on each other or alone at the direction of Carraway. He was arrested Feb. 6 after admitting to conducting child pornography and is being held on a $1 million bond.
“I think it’s very disappointing that something like this has happened in this school. We are a very close knit community, and the fact that someone was able to do this to so many of our citizens is very disappointing,” said Jody Ann Bradley, a mother of a fourth grader at the school. “I’ve seen him around and never thought that this would happen.”
Lessons for students regarding “personal safety” will begin the week of Feb. 22, according to a letter distributed to attendees before the meeting. The letter also said that school counselors are available to students and parents.  A guide on child abuse and parent neglect was also distributed.
According to a school official, 26 cameras will be installed in addition to the 18 cameras in the school.  A task force will also be developed to make policy changes in the school. “It’s important to note that every PGCPS employee goes through a proper screening process before they are hired,” the letter said. “The safety of our students is a top priority for PGCPS.” A statement by the county’s public school’s said the establishment was “shocked” by the allegations.
Civil lawsuits have been filed against the county’s public school system and the school’s Principal Michelle Williams, who is on administrative leave because, according to news reports, she did not act when teachers expressed concerns about Carraway. “Unfortunately the more we keep looking, the more we’re finding, and broader the whole matter seems to be getting,” said David Simpson, an attorney for the family of an 11-year-old victim.