Jan 13, 2007 3:50 pm US/Eastern
Second Time In A Week Howard Co. Teacher Arrested
by Mike Hellgren
Maryland (WJZ) ―
For the second time this week, a Howard County teacher faces sex abuse charges. The latest case involves a teacher at River Hill High School in Clarksville.
WJZ's Mike Hellgren has new insight into the charges against the teacher and what the students accusing him are saying.
According to police, science teacher Alan Beier snapped nude pictures of one student and touched the buttocks of another.
Eyewitness News obtained a letter the principal sent to parents informing them of the charges.
Police arrested Beier after investigators say a 16-year-old male student told them Beier had asked him to come to the school after class. He had camera equipment set up and snapped naked photos of the teen.
"We found those photographs of this boy exactly as he described them to the detectives," said Sherry Llewellyn.
The charging documents paint an even more graphic picture of what went on inside the school, including Beier asking the teen to bring swimming trunks to his classroom which, documents state, the teacher pulled off, snapping pictures of the teen holding a ping-pong paddle in front of his penis.
"I know him personally. He was a great teacher. He got teacher of the year one year," a parent said.
"He was a great teacher and a great soccer coach," a student said.
"As we began that investigation, we learned of a second victim," Llewellyn said.
Police say a 17-year-old female says she was fondled twice in class.
"I really feel bad for the whole situation. I'm concerned for my daughter," Betty Padgett said.
Padgett's daughter attends River Hill High.
"You're counting on those teachers having some kind of morals, and then, you hear stories like this. I feel bad for the teachers who are the good teachers, who would never do anything like this," Padgett said.
It's the second time this week police arrested a Howard County teacher. The first was at Glenelg High, where police say students accused a history teacher of sending inappropriate text messages and exposing himself.
Police are asking for any more possible victims at both schools to come forward.
Beier faces more than 100 years behind bars if he's convicted.
School officials declined comment.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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