Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School staff facing charges for sexual relationship with teen in 1980s
WASHINGTON - A former Montgomery County High School teacher and staff member at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School is facing charges after police say he had sex with a student while he was a teacher in the 80s.
Police say 63-year-old Michael Riley is facing charges for an alleged sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female student at Rockville High School during the 1984-1985 school year.
Investigators say Riley had sex with the girl at school and during school hours and now faces child abuse and child molestation charges.
He had been serving as Director of Athletics and Summer Programs at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville.
JDS Head of School Rabbi Mitchel Malkus said "We have no reason to believe that Mr. Riley engaged in any inappropriate conduct at CESJDS," in a statement to the school community. He said Riley was placed on leave from the school in mid-April from a letter to the school.
The full letter from Rabbi Malkus:
"I am writing today to inform you of a developing and difficult situation. This afternoon, Mike Riley, CESJDS's Director of Athletics and Summer Programs, was charged with criminal offenses in connection with an alleged "sexual relationship" with a high school student when he was a teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools in the 1980s. Mr. Riley joined CESJDS in 2010.
When we first learned of the allegations in a mid-April letter to the school, we quickly took action to contact the authorities, including the Montgomery County Police Department and Child Protective Services. In consultation with authorities, we placed Mr. Riley on leave shortly thereafter. We have no reason to believe that Mr. Riley engaged in any inappropriate conduct at CESJDS.
At CESJDS, we are committed to fostering a vibrant, caring, and moral community. The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority, and we strive to foster a culture in which students can freely express concerns to trusted adults. We will be meeting with students in the coming days to reaffirm in an age-appropriate manner both our commitment to their safety, and the reporting and counseling resources available to them in difficult moments.
I will continue to keep you informed. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me directly if I can answer any questions."