D.C. Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of a Montgomery County Girl

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	DEPARTMENT OF POLICE MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION 2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850-3294   240-773-5030
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 24, 2008	FOR MORE INFORMATION:                         Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

D.C. Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of a Montgomery County Girl

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Family Crimes Division have recently been investigating the report of sexual abuse that occurred in April of 2003 between an adult male and a then-16-year-old girl from Germantown.

On February 21, 2008, detectives from the MCP Child Abuse Section learned that the then-16-year-old girl had been the victim of inappropriate sexual contact by Vernon Eugene Bates, currently 40 years old, from the 1300 block of Monroe Street in northwest Washington, D.C.

The investigation revealed that Bates, a friend of the victim’s mother, had engaged in inappropriate sexual contact at the victim’s home. The investigation resulted in an arrest warrant being issued charging him with sexual abuse to a minor, second-degree assault, and fourth-degree sexual offense. Bates turned himself in to Montgomery County Police today. He was released on a $50,000 bond.

Bates is described as a black male, 6’1” tall, weighing 205 pounds. He has black hair.

Bates was previously an employee of the Montgomery County School system, but has not worked in a public school since February of 2002. He has currently been employed as a physical trainer at the Washington Sports Club located at 6828 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda. In that position he is known to have had association with teenaged girls.

Detectives from the Family Crimes Division would like to hear from anyone who may have been a victim of inappropriate sexual contact from Bates. Detective Frank Darley can be reached at 240-773-5431.