A former teacher from Montgomery County, Maryland, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to engaging in sexual acts with an underage middle school student back in 2015. However, the teacher, Melissa Marie Curtis, will only serve a year behind bars, with the rest of the sentence suspended. In addition to the 12 months in prison, Curtis will undergo five years of supervised probation and will have to register as a sex offender for 25 years. She is also prohibited from unsupervised contact with minors other than her own children.
The investigation into Curtis began in October 2023 when the victim came forward with allegations of the sexual relationship that occurred while Curtis was a teacher at Lakelands Park Middle School and the victim was a student. The incidents reportedly started in 2015 when the victim was 14 years old and Curtis was 22. The two were often left alone together as the victim volunteered for an after-school program run by Curtis.
According to court documents, the sexual assaults took place over several months, with over 20 instances occurring while the victim was in eighth grade. The assaults happened at various locations, including the school, Curtis’ car, and her mother’s house. It was also revealed that Curtis provided the victim with alcohol and marijuana during these encounters.
Curtis was charged with sexual abuse of a minor and multiple counts of third- and fourth-degree sexual offenses in October 2023, leading to her arrest. She pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree sex offense in June 2024 and was sentenced to prison with most of the time suspended.
Despite the offenses occurring in 2015, Curtis left the school district in 2017. This case sheds light on the importance of protecting minors from sexual abuse and the legal repercussions that follow such actions. It serves as a reminder of the responsibility that educators have in ensuring the safety and well-being of their students.
