July 23, 2007 - Christopher Newman, 31, a teacher at South River High School, was arrested and charged with two counts of sex abuse of a minor and two counts of fourth-degree sex offense in connection with a relationship with a 16-year-old female student.
Newman was removed from the classroom in March. His employment ended the last day of school, but neither police nor the school announced the arrest. The Capital found out through an anonymous tip and confirmed the charges at the courthouse.
Full Name: Christopher Thomas Newman
July 26 - Baltimore Sun: Newman is married and the father of two young children.
Newman's arrest comes after the convictions of two Anne Arundel school employees for having sexual relationships with students. A former Glen Burnie High School band director was ordered in March to spend 18 months in jail for having sex at the school and in a park with a female student. [TT - That would be Jeffrey Thompson LINK ]Newman was reassigned in March. He worked in a school district warehouse until his teaching contract was severed June 15.
A year earlier, a former North County High School basketball coach and student advocate was convicted of having a yearlong sexual relationship with a student. He was sentenced to two months in jail.
CONVICTION and SENTENCING Jan 12, 2008 - Newman entered an Alford plea yesterday to fourth-degree sex offense, a misdemeanor, as part of a plea agreement. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped stronger charges of sex abuse of a minor.
Circuit Court Judge William C. Mulford II sentenced Newman to one year in jail, but suspended all but 10 days. Mr. Newman was taken from the courtroom in handcuffs and booked into the Jennifer Road Detention Center last night.
State sentencing guidelines called for Mr. Newman to received only probation, but Judge Mulford said he deserved some time behind bars for exploiting his position of trust.The teenage victim apologized for ruining her former teacher's life.
