Teacher accused of child sexual abuse

 

Robert Bonner, a teacher, coach and part-time assistant athletic director at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, a Catholic elementary and high school in Middle River, turned himself in to Baltimore County law enforcement officials today after a warrant for his arrest was issued Monday on charges of sex abuse of a minor, second degree assault, and two counts of fourth degree sex offense. Mr. Bonner worked at the school from 1992-99 and again from 2011-17.

The school suspended Bonner on Monday, January 23, when police gave the school permission to do so.

The alleged incident that led to his arrest involved a student at Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School and occurred on January 20, 2017. Once the school became aware of the alleged incident, the Archdiocese of Baltimore reported the matter to Baltimore County Police.

All Archdiocesan employees and volunteers who work with children are screened for criminal histories and the national sex offender registry, and go through training on how to recognize, prevent, and report child abuse. Mr. Bonner completed this process most recently in 2011 and he was re-trained in 2014, as required by archdiocesan policies.

Mr. Bonner served as a part-time assistant athletic director and business teacher at the high school from 1992-1999. From 1992-98 he coached the women’s soccer team. From 1992-99 he coached the women’s basketball team. In 1993 he coached women’s softball. From 2001-17, Mr. Bonner served as part-time assistant athletic director and as a physical education teacher for both the elementary and high schools. In addition, from 2011-13 he coached middle school boys’ basketball and baseball and from 2012-15 he coached women’s soccer and women’s basketball.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore and Our Lady of Mount Carmel are committed to protecting children and helping to heal victims of abuse. We urge anyone who has any knowledge of any child sexual abuse to come forward and to report it immediately to civil authorities (Baltimore County Police, Crimes Against Children Unit: 410-853-3650). If Church personnel is suspected of committing the abuse, we ask that you also call the Archdiocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection Hotline at 1-866-417-7469.