Steve Burns

WMAL.com

LA PLATA – (WMAL) Carlos Bell, the former teacher’s aide at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School in Waldorf, is now facing upwards of 100 counts in relation to the alleged sexual abuse of several students.

Charles County State’s Attorney Tony Covington announced Monday that a grand jury had returned the indictments Friday and Bell was formally charged in court on Monday.

“This indictment carries 119 counts,” Covington said. “It covers the time frame from May of 2015 until June of 2017.”

Covington said the investigation uncovered 24 victims. 13 had been identified.

“This indictment does not signal the end of this investigation,” he said. “We still need people who know something about this case to contact the Sheriff’s Office.”

Bell is facing 12 counts of child sexual abuse, each carrying a maximum 25 years in prison. There are also 50 second- and third-degree sex offense counts and 44 counts of filming child pornography, among many other charges.

Prosecutors allege Bell filmed the abuse of male students at the school, in classrooms, and his house. He also told authorities he is HIV positive. He is facing three counts of attempting to transmit the disease. It is unclear if any students were infected, though authorities said at a prior news conference two students tested negative.

Bell was removed from his teaching position in December 2016, but was charged the following June only after State Police investigators were able to clear through a long backlog and access Bell’s cell phone. He also worked as a track coach at La Plata High School.