Former Baltimore County school worker arrested for sex offense against student, police say
A former building service worker at a Baltimore County school has been accused of a sex offense against a student at Overlea High School, according to Baltimore County police.
Donovan Michaud, 30, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of fourth-degree sex offenses. He was initially held without bond at the Baltimore County Detention Center.
Charging documents detail alleged sex offenses
The student, a 17-year-old girl, told police that she and Michaud exchanged inappropriate photos and had intimate relations inside a classroom after school on one occasion, according to charging documents.
Police said that a social worker was assigned to the case and received permission from the student's mother to search her laptop. On the laptop, the social worker found a lengthy conversation between the student and Michaud on the Discord App.
A detective obtained a warrant to retrieve the student's Discord account content. Police said that Michaud talked with the student about the school and CPS investigation. Michaud allegedly told the student that "he would be the one getting in real trouble."
In an interview, Michaud allegedly told the social worker and her supervisor that he met the student while cleaning her school after school hours.
After Michaud and the student realized they had "some common interests", they became intimate, and agreed to meet up in one of the classrooms after school one day, charging documents allege.
In the interview, Michaud said he felt like he abused his power by being a school employee and engaging in a sexual relationship with the student at the school, according to police. He also acknowledged that he told the student in a note not to get him into trouble and to get rid of the conversations that took place between them.
Overlea High School Principal responds
In a letter to parents, guardians, and staff, Overlea High School Principal Monica Sample said the school was aware of the incident, and was disturbed.
"These charges are disturbing and are a direct violation of our policies and core values. BCPS is fully cooperating with law enforcement on this matter, and Mr. Michaud is on administrative leave and is barred from BCPS property," the letter reads in part. "Mr. Michaud has been employed with BCPS since 2019. He has worked at Overlea High School since November 2021. He previously worked at Stemmers Run and Perry Hall middle schools."
Sample also wrote that staff will be made available to talk to those who need to speak with someone in order to process their feelings.
Anyone with additional information that can be helpful to the investigation is asked to call the Baltimore County Police Department Crimes Against Children Unit office at 410-887-7720 or the Department of Social Services at 410-887-8463.
Baltimore County gym teachers charged with sex crimes
Within the past couple of months, a few gym teachers in Baltimore County were arrested on charges of sexual offenses against students.
Police said 61-year-old Roger Myers was arrested on multiple sex offenses and assault charges, which allegedly happened at the Deep Creek Middle School in Essex. He has been on administrative leave since January, when the school initially learned about the investigation, according to the school's principal.
"These charges are deeply troubling," Deep Creek Middle School principal Laura Kelly said in a letter to families. "BCPS holds its employees to a high standard of character, and this alleged behavior is abhorrent and completely unacceptable."
Sean Brooks, 40, a physical education teacher at Perry Hall High School, was arrested on charges of sexually abusing a minor on school property.
Brooks has worked at Perry Hall High School since 2017. School leaders stated that he is on administrative leave and is barred from all said he is on administrative leave and is barred from Baltimore County Public Schools property.
Anne Arundel County teacher acquitted of charges
In June, an Anne Arundel County elementary school teacher was acquitted on child sexual abuse charges, prompting anger and protests from parents.
Schlegel was accused of sexually abusing eight of his students between 2022 and 2024 while he worked as a third-grade math teacher at Severna Park Elementary School in Anne Arundel County.
A jury found him not guilty of 18 counts of sex offenses in a partial verdict, but they remained deadlocked on three charges.
Several of the students testified during the trial.
After the court's ruling, outraged parents placed pink signs throughout the community. They hired local attorney Thiru Vignarajah in their continued fight.
"The state has an obligation to protect our most vulnerable citizens – our children – and they failed us again today," said the mother of an alleged victim.
