Teacher Arrested for Alleged Sexual Abuse

[Howard Hartman]

Teacher Arrested for Alleged Sexual Abuse

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- A middle school teacher has been arrested for allegedly sexually abusing one of his former students.

Montgomery County Police charged 47-year-old Joseph Robert Ballmann with sexual abuse of a minor, third-degree sexual offense, and sexual solicitation of a minor. He was arrested at his home in Rockville on Wednesday night.

Police say Ballmann engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with a now-15-year-old boy while the boy was in seventh and eighth grade at Robert Frost Middle School in Rockville.

At the time, Ballmann was the boy's seventh grade teacher. The alleged incidents occurred at Ballmann's residence from spring 2004 through May 2005.

Ballmann had taught english at Robert Frost since 1996. He has been placed on administrative leave from Montgomery County Public Schools.

In 2003, Ballmann was selected as a Montgomery County Teacher of the Year finalist.

Prior to teaching at Robert Frost, Ballmann taught english and social studies at Westland Middle School in Bethesda and was a bus driver and substitute teacher for the Montgomery County School system.

Ballmann is currently being held at the Montgomery County Detention Center on $1,000,000 bond. He is expected to have a bond hearing Thursday.

Police are investigating the possibility of additional cases involving Ballmann.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Carvajal in the Family Crimes Division at 240-773-5417. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

[Editor's Note: This is the second Frost Middle School teacher to be arrested this year. In February, Erin Marks, a Frost special education teacher was arrested for drug distribution. See the complete details

[Howard Hartman]

The Gazette
Melissa J. Brachfeld and Warren Parish

Teacher Charged for Alleged Sexual Abuse of a Student

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).

[Howard Hartman]

The Gazette
Melissa J. Brachfeld

Teacher Faces Second Set of Sex Abuse Charges

Police say Joseph Ballmann had inappropriate contact
with students at Westland, Frost middle schools

The Robert Frost Middle School teacher charged with sexual abuse of a minor in May was arrested again Thursday morning on similar charges allegedly involving another former student.

Police arrested Joseph Robert Ballmann, 47, in the 81900 block of Falling Star Road in Germantown, charging him with child abuse and third-degree sexual offense.

Police detectives said Ballmann engaged in inappropriate sexual contact between 1995 and 1997 with a boy who was in the seventh and eighth grades at Westland Middle School in Bethesda at the time. The alleged victim is now 24 years old.

Police said the student and Ballmann, then a teacher at Westland, had developed a personal relationship as the two spent time together in activities both during and after school. The alleged abuse occurred at the victim’s home, not on school property, police said.

Ballmann was arrested May 2 in the 11100 block of Cedarwood Drive in Rockville on charges that he sexually abused a Frost student on numerous occasions from spring 2004 to May 2005.

Police said Ballmann had been the boy’s seventh grade teacher and had engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with him at Ballmann’s residence, not on school property. The student is now 15.

Ballmann was charged with sexual abuse of a minor, third-degree sexual offense and sexual solicitation of a minor in that arrest.

The bond for Ballmann’s first arrest was originally reduced from $1 million to $150,000 at a hearing on May 3, provided he move in with his sister, obey a curfew, wear a tracking device and refrain from any contact with children or Robert Frost Middle School in Rockville.

Ballmann paid the bond at that time and was released.

On June 7, the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a motion seeking to have the bond for Ballmann’s first case revoked, citing new evidence. The motion was granted.

After Ballmann was arrested again the same day on the new charges, bond was set at $150,000.

Stephen B. Mercer, a Rockville attorney representing Ballmann, did not seek to have Ballmann’s second bond reduced during his hearing Friday afternoon in Montgomery County District Court before Judge Eugene Wolf.

As a result, Ballmann is being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Clarksburg, Officer Melanie Hadley, a county police spokeswoman, said Tuesday

Mercer requested a preliminary hearing, which is scheduled for July 6.

Seth B. Zucker, communications director for the State’s Attorney’s Office, said a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Ballmann’s first case on Friday.

Mercer would not comment after the bond hearing, but he did provide a statement to The Gazette in an e-mail message Monday evening.

‘‘My only comment is that my client is entering a plea of not guilty to all charges and will be aggressively fighting the charges,” he wrote.

Ballmann was a bus driver for the Montgomery County school system, served as a substitute teacher, taught English and social studies at Westland and taught English at Robert Frost, school system officials confirmed.

Montgomery County Public Schools spokeswoman Kate Harrison said Ballmann is on administrative leave from the school system.

Anyone who has additional information about other alleged incidents involving Ballmann is asked to call Detective Karen Carvajal in the Family Crimes Division at 240-773-5417. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

[Howard Hartman]

The Gazette
Melissa J. Brachfeld

Grand Jury Indicts Middle School Teacher

A Montgomery County grand jury Thursday indicted the middle school teacher charged with sexual abuse of a minor in May and arrested again last week on similar charges, the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office reported.

The indictment of Joseph Robert Ballmann, 47, of Rockville stems from the first set of charges filed against him on May 3. He was arrested May 2 in the 11100 block of Cedarwood Drive in Rockville on charges that he sexually abused a Frost student on numerous occasions from spring 2004 to May 2005.

Police said Ballmann had been the boy’s seventh grade teacher at Robert Frost Middle School in Rockville and had engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with him at Ballmann’s residence, not on school property. The student is now 15.

Ballmann was charged with sexual abuse of a minor, third-degree sexual offense and sexual solicitation of a minor in that arrest.

If convicted of all of those charges, Ballmann could face a maximum penalty of 45 years imprisonment, according to a press release issued today by the State’s Attorney’s Office.

Ballmann was arrested again on June 7 in the 81900 block of Falling Star Road in Germantown. He was charged with child abuse and third-degree sexual offense.

Police detectives said Ballmann engaged in inappropriate sexual contact between 1995 and 1997 with a boy who was in the seventh and eighth grades at Westland Middle School in Bethesda at the time. The alleged victim is now 24 years old.

Police said the student and Ballmann, then a teacher at Westland, had developed a personal relationship as the two spent time together in activities both during and after school. The alleged abuse occurred at the victim’s home, not on school property, police said.

The bond for Ballmann’s first arrest was originally reduced from $1 million to $150,000 at a hearing on May 3, provided he move in with his sister, obey a curfew, wear a tracking device and refrain from any contact with children or Robert Frost Middle School.

Ballmann paid the bond at that time and was released.

On June 7, the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a motion seeking to have the bond for that case revoked, citing new evidence. The motion was granted.

After Ballmann was arrested again the same day on the new charges, bond was set at $150,000.

Ballmann is being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Clarksburg, Officer Melanie Hadley, a county police spokeswoman, said Tuesday.

A preliminary hearing in Ballmann’s first case was originally scheduled for Friday, but will not take place as a result of Thursday’s indictment.

A preliminary hearing for Ballmann’s second case is scheduled for July 6.

Ballmann was a bus driver for the Montgomery County school system, served as a substitute teacher, taught English and social studies at Westland and taught English at Robert Frost, school system officials confirmed.

Montgomery County Public Schools spokeswoman Kate Harrison said Ballmann is on administrative leave from the school system.

Anyone who has additional information about other alleged incidents involving Ballmann is asked to call Detective Karen Carvajal in the Family Crimes Division at 240-773-5417. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 866-411-TIPS (8477).

[Howard Hartman]

The Gazette
Melissa J. Brachfeld

Grand Jury Issues New Indictment Against Teacher

Two new charges added to Rockville man accused of sexually abusing two students

A Montgomery County grand jury on Thursday issued a new indictment for the middle school teacher charged with sexual abuse of a minor in May and arrested again last month on a second set of similar charges.

Joseph Robert Ballmann, 47, of Rockville was originally indicted by a county grand jury June 14 on a set of charges filed against him in May.

Ballmann was arrested May 2 at his home in the 11100 block of Cedarwood Drive and charged with sexual abuse of a minor, third-degree sexual offense and sexual solicitation of a minor.

Police allege that Ballmann sexually abused one of his students from Robert Frost in Rockville on numerous occasions from spring 2004 to May 2005 at Ballmann’s residence. The student is now 15.

Ballmann was arrested again June 7 and charged with child abuse and third-degree sexual offense.

Police detectives allege Ballmann engaged in inappropriate sexual contact between 1995 and 1997 with a boy who was in the seventh and eighth grades at Westland Middle School in Bethesda at the time. The alleged victim is now 24 years old.

The alleged abuse occurred at the victim’s home, not on school property, police said.

Ballmann was living with a relative in the 81900 block of Falling Star Road in Germantown at the time of his second arrest.

Thursday’s indictment overrides the June 14 indictment, the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office reported.

The new indictment also adds new charges and consolidates the two previous sets of charges against Ballmann into one case, according to a press release issued Friday by the State’s Attorney’s Office.

Ballmann is now charged with two counts of sexual abuse of a minor, three counts of sexual abuse in the third-degree, one count of sexual solicitation of a minor, one count of exhibition of pornography to a minor and two counts of manufacture or possession of a destructive device, according to the press release.

Seth Zucker, a spokesman for the State’s Attorney Office, said he could not be more specific about the two counts of manufacture or possession of a destructive device charge, citing that doing so would be exposing evidence in the case.

In a bond hearing May 3, Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Herdman said 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.

Fire officials detonated the pipe, but it was not found to be explosive, Herdman said.

Zucker said a scheduling hearing to determine future events in the case is set for Friday in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville.

In the meantime, Ballmann is being held without bond at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Clarksburg, Zucker said.

Ballmann has been a bus driver for the Montgomery County school system, served as a substitute teacher, taught English and social studies at Westland, taught English at Robert Frost until his arrest, school system officials confirmed.

He remains on administrative leave from the school system, Montgomery County Public Schools spokesman Brian Edwards said Monday morning.

[Howard Hartman]

The Gazette
Melissa J. Brachfeld

Ballmann Released Monday on Bond

Middle school teacher scheduled for trial Jan. 28

A Rockville middle school teacher indicted in July on charges that he abused two students is out on bond, a month after a previous bond request was denied.

A status hearing and bond review was held Friday in Montgomery County Circuit Court to determine if Joseph Robert Ballmann, 47, of Rockville could be released before his criminal trial in January and whether the two cases against him could be consolidated into one, said Donna Weaver, a spokeswoman for the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office. She said both motions were granted.

Weaver said he was released Monday on a $150,000 property bond.

She added that there are several special conditions of his release, including that he must wear an electronic monitoring ankle device.

Ballmann had been held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Clarksburg.

His attorney, Stephen B. Mercer, could not be reached for comment by Gazette press time.

Ballmann, a teacher at Robert Frost Middle School, was indicted by a county grand jury on July 5, charged with two counts of sexual abuse of a minor, three counts of sexual abuse in the third-degree, one count of sexual solicitation of a minor, one count of exhibition of pornography to a minor and two counts of manufacture or possession of a destructive device.

Ballmann was arrested May 2 at his home in the 11100 block of Cedarwood Drive and charged in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a former Frost student. Police say that Ballmann abused the student on numerous occasions from spring 2004 to May 2005 at Ballmann’s residence. The student is now 15.

Ballmann paid bond at that time and was released.

On June 7, the county State’s Attorney’s Office filed a motion seeking to have the bond for that case revoked, citing new evidence. The motion was granted.

Ballmann was arrested that same day in the 81900 block of Falling Star Road in Germantown in connection with an alleged incident involving another student. Police say that Ballmann engaged in inappropriate sexual contact between 1995 and 1997 with a boy who was in the seventh and eighth grades at Westland Middle School in Bethesda at the time. The alleged victim is now 24 years old.

Bond was set at $150,000, but could not be paid because of the action taken by the State’s Attorney’s Office.

On July 16, a motions hearing was held at Montgomery County Circuit Court to determine if Ballmann could be released from jail before criminal trial. The motion was denied.

Ballmann has been a bus driver for the Montgomery County school system, served as a substitute teacher, taught English and social studies at Westland, and taught English at Robert Frost until his arrest, school system officials confirmed.

He remains on administrative leave without pay, Montgomery County Public Schools spokesman Brian Edwards told The Gazette Tuesday afternoon.

Ballmann’s jury trial was originally scheduled for October, but has been rescheduled to Jan. 28 of next year.