A physical education teacher at the Day School at Baltimore Hebrew has been suspended following charges of child abuse.
Foye C. Minton, 33, was arrested on Jan. 10 at around noon at the day school. He has been charged with child abuse following an investigation by the Baltimore County Police Department’s Crimes against Children Unit, according to Elise Armacost, director of media and communications for the Baltimore County Public Safety unit. The female victim, now 20, contacted police in the fall of 2012. She told investigators that the alleged abuse started when she was a minor at the Shoshana S. Cardin School and Minton was its dean of students and director of athletics. He previously worked at the Boys’ Latin School of Maryland.
Minton is claiming the relationship was consensual. A statement issued by Minton’s attorney, Adam P. Frank, said, “Any sexual involvement with the alleged victim … occurred when she was over the age of 18 and with her parents having full knowledge of the relationship throughout. … Mr. Minton would ask that you withhold any judgment until all the facts are presented at trial.”
David Prashker, current head of Cardin School, told the JT he was informed of the charges at the end of last week.
“We will cooperate fully,” he said. “This needs to go through the courts and the police and allow the justice system to do what it is in place to do. … I don’t want to make any other comments in the interim.”
“If I suspected anything inappropriate, he would not have remained an employee,” said Barbie Prince, who was head of school at the time of the allegations.
Baltimore Hebrew sent a letter to parents last week informing them of the situation and that the school is “not aware of any incidents or complaints in connection to this teacher while teaching at the Day School.”
The letter, signed by Head of School Gerri Chizeck and President Dr. Louis Shpritz, said the school is committed to “ensuring the safety and integrity of our community.”
In a phone interview, Chizeck told the JT that the school is cooperating with the investigation and that Baltimore Hebrew has “little information; we are not privy to that.”
In the letter, Chizeck and Shpritz requested all parents’ conversations about the matter be kept to a minimum and also asked that parents refer any and all inquiries to Chizeck.
A second letter, sent Jan. 15, stressed that “even during tumultuous times calm needs to be maintained. I hope you will understand that the school takes all of its responsibilities very seriously and will continue to communicate with you if there is additional information that can be shared.”
The abuse continued for about four years, according to reports. The victim told police that Minton repeatedly attempted to contact her after she ended the relationship. Maryland law prohibits adults in a position of trust, authority or guardianship — such as teachers, coaches and pastors — from having a sexual relationship with a minor, regardless of whether the child consents.
On the Twitter account with Minton’s name and photo, there are many sexual references, including one written as recently as Jan. 4, at midnight: “I love to text girls at 11:12 to make their wish come true!!.” On Dec. 31 at 2:22 p.m. he tweeted, “Motto for 2013: ‘I’ve got passion in my pants and I ain’t afraid to show it.’”
The victim has yet to make a public statement. Nancy Aiken of CHANA: Counseling Helpline & Aid Network for Abused Women, explained that once a victim in these kinds of cases makes a statement it is not over for them, “it is just more disruption and more pain.”
She cautioned the community to be patient and to let the case play its course through the proper authorities but encourages anyone with any concerns to call the school, the police or the CHANA office for support and guidance.
Minton is being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on $250,000 bond. Police believe there may be other victims. Anyone with additional information should call police at 410-307-2020 to contact a detective.
