Teacher charged for alleged sexual abuse of a student

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Teacher charged for alleged sexual abuse of a student

by Melissa J. Brachfeld and Warren Parish | Staff Writers

E-mail this article \ Print this article

An English teacher at a Rockville middle school who had chloroform and torn pictures of children in his home has been arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a student on numerous occasions.

Joseph Robert Ballmann, 47, of the 11100 block of Cedarwood Drive, is being held on $150,000 bond on charges of sexual abuse of a minor, third-degree sexual offense and sexual solicitation of a minor.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 1.

A now 15-year-old boy told police that Ballmann engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with him beginning when the boy was a seventh-grader at Robert Frost Middle School and continuing into the next school year.

The alleged incidents occurred at Ballmann’s home between spring 2004 and May 2005, police said.

Ballmann has been employed by Montgomery County Public Schools for about 18 years. He was placed on administrative leave from Robert Frost on Wednesday, said MCPS spokesman Brian Edwards.

Ballmann was a bus driver from 1989-92, served as a substitute teacher in 1992 and taught English and social studies at Westland Middle School in Bethesda from August 1992 through August 1996, Edwards said. He began teaching English at Robert Frost in August 1996.

During a bond hearing today in Montgomery County District Court, state prosecutors asked that Ballmann be held on $1 million bond, saying he represents a threat to the community.

A search of Ballmann’s home turned up a pipe that appeared to be a bomb, explosives, handcuffs, chloroform, mace, pepper spray, torn pictures of children in the garbage and a handgun, Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Herdman said.

Fire officials detonated the pipe, but no explosives were found, Herdman said.

Ballmann’s sister and brother defended him at the hearing, describing him as a trusted teacher who cares for his ill aunt and elderly mother in his off time and has no prior criminal record.

Linked to the courtroom through a remote video connection from the county jail, the defendant questioned why prosecutors would call firecrackers explosives.

Judge Stephen P. Johnson quieted Ballmann, saying, ‘‘You’re not helping yourself.”

Herdman said Ballmann admitted during a ‘‘phone sting” that he admitted to the allegations.

Ballmann’s bond was set at $150,000, provided he move in with his sister, wear a tracking device and refrain from any contact with children or the school.

Police ask anyone with information about Ballmann or other inappropriate contact he may have had with children to call Det. Karen Carvajal at 240-773-5417.

Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).