Gaithersburg Elementary School janitor charged with sex assault of 6-year-old student

GAITHERSBURG, Md. (AP) -- A Montgomery County school's janitor is being charged with sexually assaulting a 6-year-old student last month.

Police say Ron Greene sexually assaulting the girl in November at Gaithersburg Elementary School. Police say Greene is facing a charge of second-degree assault, which has a minimum of 15 years if convicted.

Sgt. Rebecca Innocenti of the Montgomery County Police Department says the 6-year-old victim told detectives Greene sexually assaulted her while he was cleaning the girls' bathroom on a school day in November. Innocenti says police haven't received any reports of additional victims but they're asking anyone who believes their child has been a victim to come forward.

Greene has been on paid administrative leave since the investigation began in late November.

It was not clear if Greene has an attorney.

Gaithersburg Elementary School principal sent a letter home to parents saying:

Dear Parents and Guardians:

I am writing to inform you that the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) has arrested Mr. Ron Greene, a building service worker at Gaithersburg Elementary School, on one count of 2nd degree sexual assault of a minor. According to the MCPD, the charges are related to inappropriate behavior that occurred at the school.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has been fully cooperating with Child Protective Services, the MCPD, and the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office on this matter.

Pursuant to our memorandum of understanding with these agencies and MCPS policies and regulations, the Special Victims Investigations Division of the Montgomery County Police Department requested us not to share any details broadly with the community until now to avoid prejudicing the ongoing investigation.

I know that our community finds the allegations in the charging document as disturbing as I do. The charges represent a serious breach of trust, responsibility, integrity and the law. We expect and require our employees to be held to a high standard of character, and these allegations certainly violate that. I immediately placed Mr. Greene on administrative leave once I became aware of the investigation, and he remains on administrative leave today.

As always, we are committed to the well-being of all our students. A support team of school psychologists, counselors and pupil personnel workers from MCPS will join with our staff on Wednesday, December 21, and will be available, as needed, to provide counseling and support to students. In addition, information will be provided to school staff, which includes guidance on how to best support students in the classroom.

Ensuring a safe learning environment for our students is our top priority. If you or your child has any information that may be helpful to the investigation, I ask that you call the Special Victims Investigations Division of the Montgomery County Police Department at 240-773-5400.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at 301-840-7136 if you have questions.