Clarksville, MARYLAND

Sentenced to four years in prison and two trials to go.

Jan 12, 2007 - Alan Beier, 52, a teacher at River Hill High School, was arrested and charged with sex offenses and sexual child abuse involving two students.

He invited a of a 16-year-old male to help him set up camera equipment at the school after hours, then talked student into disrobing for photographs. The student contacted police. Police found the photographs that matched the photos the student had described in a search of Beier's home.

During the investigation, police said, detectives learned that a 17-year-old female student had reported that Beier twice had sexual contact with her.
Full name: Alan Meade Beier

The Baltimore Sun reports that Brier is the second Howard County teacher arrested just this week. Joseph Ellis was arrested on numerous sex offenses. [Our entry for Ellis.]

Jan 13 - Beier, who was chosen River Hill's 2001 Teacher of the Year by the senior class, has been placed on administrative leave by the school system.

INDICTED Feb 9 - Brier was indicted by the grand jury on sexual misconduct charges involving a third student. Both Brier and Ellis remain on paid leave.

TRIAL DATE SCHEDULED Mar 5 - A trial date has been set for of Jul 23. He is still on paid administrative leave.

FIRING RECOMMENDED May 3 - The school superintendent has recommended firing Beier as well as Kirsten Kinley. TT link. They fired Joseph Samuel Ellis. His trial is scheduled for July 23.

PHOTOGRAPHS ADMISSABLE May 31 - A judge ruled that photographs of the boy that confirm his story would be admissable as evidence in the trial. The judge also ruled against a motion to dismiss charges. The jury trial is still expected to begin July 23.

TRIAL SUSPENDED July 12 - On June 25, a judge suspended Brier's trial while Brier's attorney files an appeal in the Court of Special Appeals to supress evidence police seized from his house at the time of his arrest.

MOTIONS HEARING August 26 - Beier will have a motions hearing November 9. Beier has appealed a recommendation by county Superintendent Sydney L. Cousin that the school board terminate his employment.

TRIAL SCHEDULED Jan 16 - Found in a story about Kirsten Kinley's lawyer's attempt to get her released. Beier is scheduled to go to trial on March 26 .

PORNOGRAPHY INADMISSIBLE March 21 - Circuit Court Judge Diane O. Leasure ruled that showing the "legal" pornography to a jury would be too prejudicial and could not be included as evidence at Beier's trial, which is scheduled to begin Wednesday.

The prosecution had argued that pornographic photographs found in Beier's home included adults in poses similar to those in the photos of the 16-year-old boy that were found on Beier's school computer, showing that Beier's intent in taking the photos was for nothing more than his own benefit.

GUILTY VERDICT March 28 - A Howard County judge Friday found Alan Beier guilty of second-degree assault and sexual abuse of a minor. Brier will be sentenced June 9.

Beier, who also is charged with fondling a 17-year-old female student on two occasions and with sexual misconduct with another male student. Both trials are scheduled for August.

NEW TRIAL DENIED June 6 - Circuit Judge Diane Leasure denied the request for a new trial based on the claim that his actions did not make up sexual exploitation. She is considering whether to permit Beier's request for a court hearing to challenge the affidavit police used to get a search warrant. She will rule on Monday when Brier is due to be sentenced.

SENTENCED June 9 - Brier was sentenced to to four years ** in prison. Beier could have faced 35 years in prison for the two convictions. TWO OTHER TRIALS are scheduled for August.

** June 10 story clarifed the sentence. Brier was sentenced to 10 years in prison with all but four suspended on the sex abuse conviction and five years with all but two suspended, to be served concurrently with the first sentence, on the assault conviction. She also sentenced Beier to five years of probation after his release and ordered that he must register as a child sex offender.

NO RELEASE September 4 - Brier will remain in prison while he appeals his conviction. He claimed news coverage caused some inmates at the Baltimore City Correctional Center to beat him last month. He was treated at a local hospital for a broken nose and facial cuts.

Judge Diane Leisure refused to release Beier on bail or home detention while he appeals his conviction. The violence described was "deplorable," she said, but the correctional facility, not the judge, should be responsible for the welfare of the inmates.

"Jail is probably not a place anybody wants to spend a lot of time," the judge said.