A former teacher’s aide at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School in Waldorf, Maryland is now accused of abusing 24 students and potentially spreading HIV.
Carlos Deangelo Bell, 30, now faces 119 total charges in an indictment related to the alleged abuse. Some of those charges include 12 counts of child sex abuse, 3 counts of transmitting or attempting to transmit the HIV virus, and distribution of marijuana to minors, according to NBC New York.
Bell was originally thought to have victimized at least 10 students; that number has now more than doubled.
11 of the 24 victims have not been identified, according to Charles County State’s Attorney Tony Covington.
“We still need help from the public. We still need people who know something about this case to contact the sheriff’s office,” said Covington in a news conference.
The victims were all boys, mostly middle schoolers and pre-adolescent students, according to Sheriff Troy Berry. Bell’s job included working with students with special needs.
Investigators found child pornography on Bell’s personal electronic devices, including images of him sexually assaulting children.
One video reportedly shows Bell having sex with a child inside a classroom at the school.
Charles County Superintendent Kimberly Hill says the alleged victims will receive counseling and the district will conduct a “comprehensive and transparent” review of safety procedures and curriculum pertaining to sexual harassment.
Bell was also employed by Plata High School as a track coach and was a volunteer assistant coach for a Waldorf track club.
According to Fox5 DC, additional charges against Bell include:
- 44 counts of filming child pornography
- 38 counts of second-degree sex offense
- 5 counts of displaying obscene matter to a minor
- 5 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor
- 2 counts of solicitation to a minor
Bell faces a possible maximum sentence of 1,500 years in prison.
