Maryland middle school students face hate crime charges, accused of harassing classmate with Nazi salutes, swastikas

BALTIMORE -- Disturbing hate crime allegations against three middle school students have shaken a small community in southern Maryland.

Prosecutors said the teenagers harassed a classmate with Nazi propaganda.

WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren reports from Huntingtown, Calvert County, where he spoke to State's Attorney Robert Harvey Monday.

Harvey said the teens had been harassing their classmate for months.

"Nobody should have this happen. I can only imagine how upsetting this was to her. She told them to stop," Harvey said. "They wouldn't stop."

The three 13-year-old boys were all students at Plum Point Middle School in Huntingtown. Harvey said the alleged harassment happened on school grounds. 

"Actually, in the classroom or on class breaks, things like that. It's our understanding, and this is reported from the victim, the young men were making remarks, drawing swastikas on her desk, on pieces of paper, showing them to her, making Nazi-like salutes," the prosecutor said. 

He said the hatred was directed at their classmate's religious beliefs and had been going on for months. 

"I know that they were told to stop. I know that the victim finally felt that she had to take it to a higher level and report it to the police, so she did. She went to the Maryland State Police right here in Prince Frederick with her parents and reported it," Harvey said. 

He noted the last major hate incident here was four years ago and involved several teenagers painting racist messages on the Calvert High School football field. The school removed them and wrote "No Hate Here" in their place.

Harvey said it was crucial to inform the public of the latest case.

"We want the public to know what happened as fully as we possibly can explain it because we want to make sure it doesn't happen again. We want to make sure it stops here and now. We don't need this kind of behavior here in Calvert County or anywhere in the United States. 

He explained what is next for the Plum Point middle schoolers accused of using Nazi propaganda. 

"Typically, what's involved is the juveniles are brought in with their parents to discuss the charges, determine what action might be appropriate. There can be diversion. There can be apology letters, sensitivity training. Ultimately, the intake officer will determine whether that's enough or whether it needs to be referred over to the courthouse," he said.

The victim made her report to state police two weeks ago. It will now be up to the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services to decide how far to take the case within the court system.

Maryland State Police told WJZ in a statement, "On March 12, the Maryland State Police investigated the report of a hate crime that allegedly occurred in a Calvert County Public School.  Upon consultation with the Calvert County State's Attorney, charges have been forwarded to the Department of Juvenile Services for appropriate action."

According to the Department of Justice, hate crimes are on the rise in Maryland.

There were 221 reports in 2022, the latest year statistics are available.

That compared to 40 in 2020 and 89 in 2021.