A Bel Air High School inclusion helper has been charged with having sex with a 16-year-old student, according to court documents, the second Harford County Public Schools employee in that role to be arrested on similar charges in the last two weeks.
Anthony Leon Farris Jr., 24, of the 1000 block of Pirates Court in Edgewood is charged with the sexual abuse of a minor, fourth degree sex offense, and perverted practice for allegedly having sex with a then-16-year-old female student in his office at the school on several occasions between September and December, according to charging documents filed Friday in Harford County District Court.
Farris was arrested at Harford County Public Schools’ central office on Friday following an investigation by the Bel Air Police Department, the Harford County Child Advocacy Center, and the school systems’ internal investigators, according to HCPS spokeswoman Teri Kranefeld.
Kranefeld said Farris was “no longer an employee of Harford County Public Schools” as of Friday. She said he had been on administrative leave since Jan. 25 pending the results of an internal investigation.
Farris was hired in August 2010 as an inclusion helper, a position which “supports the classroom teacher by providing support to students during instruction, prepares instructional materials for students under the direction of the teacher, and charts data on student progress,” Kranefeld said. He also served as the head coach of the Joppatowne track and field team, and an assistant coach of that school’s football team; Kranefeld could not immediately specify the dates during which he served in those roles.
According to court documents, Farris has been cited for a bevy of traffic offenses in incidents over the last few years including driving with a suspended license and suspended registration, but appears to have had no criminal charges filed against him in this state.
Farris is the second inclusion helper this month to be charged with sex offenses. Amanda Kay Miller, 35, of Whiteford, an inclusion helper at North Harford High School, was charged with four counts of sexual offenses for carrying on a two-month relationship with a 15-year-old student.
Under state law, the charge of sexual abuse of a minor carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison; the charge of perverted practice carries with it a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $1,000; and the charge of fourth degree sexual offense carries a one-year maximum sentence.
Charging documents for Farris appear below:
About Aaron Cahall
guess some school employees are getting a raise after all?
Is their a booking photo available? When the other inclusion helper was arrested and The Dagger printed the story a picture was included.
Hot women go free, men or ugly women do time.
Story has been updated with a photo.
Glad to see the union on top of this recent string of Harford County teacher sex scandals
Mr Burbey will be along shortly to tell us how Mr Craig and Dr Tomback have caused these abuses by not paying the staff enough money. He’ll also have an internet petition for everyone to sign.
Your post is patently offensive. It demeans the suffering of the victims and the gravity of the crime of which this man is accused.
Having a Marxist (Burbey) anywhere around a school is patently offensive to me.
If I were you, Kimberly, I’d be ashamed to open the door of my house and walk outside, too. Your comment is spiteful and replete with ignorance. Casting aspersions on a public servant, as you did to Mr. Burbey, who had nothing to do with the crime is a pitiful attack from a small mind.
A union thug and rabble-rouser is the opposite of a public servant.
Ahhh! Kharn slithers out from under the woodpile to flick her forked her tongue at Mr. Burbey once again!
1) Right to peaceably assemble 2) Right to petition government for redress of grievances. If you think Unions are somehow socialist or “un-American” or thuggish you should read your Constitution (one time). And then go and read about the history of the labor movement and see if there’s anything that the people in unions fought for (and were murdered for) that you enjoy today, and be grateful for them. If you are simply jealous, you should think about changing careers.
As for being a public servant: Burbey advocates for minimally adequate funding for public schools, which serve the public. For that, I regard him as a public servant. I do not care to see lack of maintenance ruin our public buildings.
Kharn, go slither back under your woodpile.
Why hasn’t kharn denied that she is part of the HCPS public school abuse school abuse scandal? Did kharn have something to do with the recent abuse of Harford County School students? kharn should deny that she was involved in any way with the sexual abuse of minors at Harford County Schools.
“When did you stop beating your wife?”
The comments from Kharn and Kimberly add nothing of value to this article.
Mr. Burbey does not represent these employees. They are not teachers, they fall under a different association. Let’s not make this about teachers or Burbey. This is about a pervert and a child who was abused.
Isn’t there a law against doing this? Do we need a new one? There seems to be a rash of these type incidents…shouldn’t we consider new, harsher “sex-laws?” So why isn’t Annapolis pushing for tougher laws “governing sex?” Oh, it’s already illegal and if found guilty the criminal would pay the penalty (maybe). But that sounds just like the case with all of the gun laws – why are the politicians looking to make even more laws when they don’t enforce what we already have??
There is a law….that is why the arrest. We don’t need a new law since clearly it is against the law. They are enforcing the law. Enforcing the law will not prevent it from being broken. You can not arrest the law breaker until the law is broken. Sadly the damage is done. I think noble, whom I don’t always agree with, has hit the nail on the head.
I agree CDEV, my comment was sarcasm only, with a dose of a parallel to the ridiculous chicken-little behavior in Annapolis and DC. We have so many laws about so many things but you cannot legislate behavior, contrary to the government’s actions. That doesn’t mean there aren’t things that could and should be done to reduce the risk of future similar crimes.
You can legislate behavior. to the extent that jail is a deterent. It will not deter everyone. If there was no law than the actions would be legite and you could do nothing to punish the individuals who engage in the behavior. Risk reduction is great and schools do background checks when they hire. Would it be great if they did them yearly or bi yearly….yup but the budgetary realities are they can not afford to.
Does the term “repeat offender” mean anything? I guess we are successful at legislating bad behavior. It seems to me that now more than ever, people only talk in terms of 100% of virtually anything and everything. Aside from the usual cliche of “the only certainty in life are death and taxes,” what else is 100% in life? And I’m not talking about turning a blind eye here, just a stop and think about it point. How many children are in the schools and what is going on. If we can take reasonable measures to stop these things, we should obviously take them. But 100% seems unattainable – after all, we require kids by law to go to school (ideally through 12th grade) and that isn’t even close to happening in some schools.
Correct 100% is unattainable. The legislation is simply needed to have a vehicle to actual punish the bad behavior. The question to be asked is how many crimes do not happen because people did not want the consequence for the action. I think part of our problem is lax sentencing. 40 years should mean 40 years no time for good behavior etc!
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Does anyone else find it ironic that all the persons involved in both the sexual and physical abuse allegations are all in the special ed department? Maybe there needs to be a thorough investigation into that department!
Shame on you Janice. Get a life
I think she is getting off track. Some people use the dagger as a soapbox, instead of communication about the issue at hand. Surely it will be investigated and prosecuted.
I don’t usually comment much on this type of thing, because there’s usually little redeeming value in doing so, and because the conversations are extremely likely to veer way off course.
However, in noticing that there seems to be a “rash” of these incidents, not just in the last week, but in recent years across the country, I think we have to consider three things.
1. These things have always happened, in all likelihood, we just never knew about them.
2. We have systems in place now that acknowledge these things can happen and are designed to prevent, discover, and stop, them from happening, which was not always the case. For both of the above, we have copious media available to make it all well known.
3. We have as a culture, sexualized EVERYthing, driven by the desire to profit from and consume products of all kinds through an association with sex. Music, movies, tv, all matter of teen/tween products from Disney pop stars to Teen Mom, cars, alcohol, shampoo, deoderant, website hosting, sports— you name it. Nearly everything sells with sex, and most of it sells well. We have indoctrinated our youth into this culture at younger and younger ages. We all know the 10 year old who is going on 18. It’s a joke, but in this way, it’s not funny. Complicating this, is that we have also packaged, sold, and proliferated the individualization of our selves, where “you” matters much more than “we”. We are in a hurry to grow our kids up into adults until they become one, around 18, and then we have a whole generation who can’t embrace adulthood. Whether because they can’t manage the cost of an education, can’t survive in the job market, can’t get over the “entitlement” that they have to have only the “right” job, etc, they aren’t growing up.
So the end result is you are putting 25 year olds who act like 16 year olds in all the wrong ways next to 16 year olds who act like 25 year olds in all the wrong ways, and we aren’t going to have problems?
I realize we have to have some standard criteria, and we can’t ruin people’s lives over some simple mistakes, but in my opinion, constant and repeated violations over simple things like having a suspended license speaks to character. If you can’t manage one of the simplest things in your life responsibly, it makes me skeptical you can handle the responsibility of being around my child.
Yes, this individual, if guilty, is 100% responsible for his actions, but we all bear the weight of this issue, in my opinion, as we have created a culture that opens doors to this kind of behavior.
Thankfully someone that enters the conversation and discusses the issue with real thought behind their comments. I wish more displayed this degree of thoughtfulness. Unfortunately this is often missed by many who post on the Dagger.
to Noble: So I am a bit confused – you are saying that “we have created a culture that opens doors to this kind of behavior” so that we ALL bear some responsibility? So for the rest of us, who dont drive on a suspended license, and who dont sexually abuse children, and who dont steal/lie/cheat, etc., we bear responsibility for those who do???? Society will never be perfect, nor will we be able to shield ourselves or our children from every bad in the world, but I most definitely am NOT responsible for those who choose to break the law. Personal responsibility is just that in that we all have choices and make our own choices — you either choose right or wrong, and I deserve no credit for those who make the right choice but nor do I deserve blame for those who make the wrong choice!! Should we have higher standards for those who work with our children? Absolutely we should, I dont argue that fact in the least.
@NorthHarfordParent
Your response only validates what Noble is saying, that “[We have] proliferated the individualization of our selves, where ‘you’ matters much more than ‘we’.” The point of his comment is to say that we all bear some responsibility for allowing things to get out of hand, and we do. Regardless of whether or not you’ve done well with your life, you still live in a society that has its flaws. Instead of throwing your arms up to say, “Don’t blame me! I’m a good person!” you should instead try to add something productive to the conversation, such as inquiring as to what systems we have in place to make sure a child is never left alone with just one adult.
An example of this is the principle of “Two-deep leadership.” This is to say that we should never allow students to be in one-on-one situations with an adult, regardless of reputation. When it comes to any interaction with a single student, at least two adults should be present at all times in closed quarters, even if it means just pulling a teacher into a quick conference to make sure you’re being safe.
The two deep leadership problem is that it costs money we don’t have. For example when a child needs tutoring after school to get a second teacher in the room would cost money. Teacher A is already staying for free but to find teacher B may cost. Teacher A can always move in sight of one of those cameras in the hall. Maybe cameras in classrooms?
That’s patently false Shananagins. You do not have to “own” the problem to help solve it. On the contrary, who is called upon to devise solutions? Is it a support group of people who have committed similar crimes? No – you do not need to be a murderer to define and establish a law that outlaws murder. Similarly, did we all contribute to that crime (example: murder)? The use of “we” in this case exonerates the individual of criminal actions that were committed by an the individual.
As for solutions, we already have background checks, etc. with all who come in contact with students. As you can see from the news headlines, that too doesn’t matter. In fact, legal checks are incapable of stopping 100%. Although 100% is an admirable goal, it is unrealistic and virtually impossible. This is proven every day (a la Adam Lanza). Two adults present with every student? That too is the standard in many schools but abuses still occur. The societal issues that Noble noted, broken families, lack of education in right and wrong (formerly called civics), and a government who will solve all our problems all encourage bad behavior. If everyone on this thread just focuses on their friends, families and communities it will be the greatest impact possible. Too few make this effort…and that’s the problem we face.
Excuse me “Shananigans” that my comments weren’t PRODUCTIVE enough for you, as you describe. You have no idea when people comment what they do to contribute to society in a positive manner, so dont be quick to jump to the assumption that you do. Or to assume that YOUR opinion is of course the only right one. I am well aware of what systems are in place (or arent) in HCPS as I have had 5 kids in/through this school system for over 20 years; I have volunteered, chaired, donated and chaperoned many events, classes, trips and fundraisers and I certainly dont need you casting a judgement that I am ‘throwing up my arms’ with your holier than thou attitude. So as “fed up” stated, if everyone in society could reach out at least within their local areas with positive reinforcement, we then can make a difference. (note I said difference, not fix all of the worlds problems) And in my opinion, that is where it starts.
Noble says – you almost got it all right – right up to the point where we all share responsibility. Most of us had zero to do with this, and no, I do not embrace or support this corrupt culture that you reference! The argument stops at personal responsibility.
If that arguement was used in the 1930′s and 40′s in Germany……well? If you know about it (the culture) and turn a blind eye and don’t speak up well you share a small level of culpability. He is not saying you should be cast into jail but as a society, which you are part of, we have created this monster. How to fix the societal problem….well that is a different can of worms! Go back to the model for secondary of having young teachers start in Middle School and than when they are older (above 30) transition to high school if that is their desire.
it seems to me that fed up and north harford are only intellectually capable of literal interpretation.
I actually agree with you. Our whole culture is geared to drugs, sex and violence. How many 40 something mommies on here (dads too) have to be their daughetrs best friend (instead of their mom) and go out drinking with their daughters and her friends? I know of quite a few of these women who end up sleeping with their daughters say 18-21 year old male friends just to feel young again. Give me a break.
You are all absolved from guilt associated with this event because you were not involved, you were unaware, and also uninterested. You may now wash your hands in the bowl of water.
This will be a great contrast in justice and will prove my point from the last article on MIller at Harford Tech. So now we have a male and a female helper basically doing the same crime. Though this guy did it on school grounds and the woman did it off campus, what is the difference. It’s the sexual act they are charged with. In theory, they should both get about the same punishment. While I would throw the book at both of them, my guess is the male being charged is going to get a much stiffer penalty than the female being charged if both are found guilty. Isn’t the crime the same?
Can’t wait to see all of the people on here argue that a male teacher banging a girl is worse than a female teacher banging a boy, both sets the same ages.
Isn’t the age of consent in MD 16? Obviously this inclusion helper should be fired, but if the sex was consentual, the only law he broke was having sex in a public school.
The age of consent in Maryland is 16. Having sex with anyone who can be considered under your custodial responsibility is the problem here.
snip his balls! cut them off
The only charge should be having sex with a student in a public school. Having 4 charges is incredibly ridiculous. She agreed to have sex with him, so he should not get any charges.. dumb
The state’s attorney will always throw the book at them, so they can negotiate a plea bargain and save the trouble of a trial.
Negotiating four charges is much easier than a single charge, because in the latter case the only way you have to move are reduce it to a lessor offense, or promise a reduced sentence. With multiple charges, you can drop several low-level ones easily and get them to still plead to the worst crime and a long sentence.
When your society has no moral absolutes, you have situations such as these ,and discussions such as I have read above. We live in a “do your own thing..” society, not a “love your neighbor as yourself…” one.
It sounds to me like this guy was doing plenty of “love your neighbor as yourself”… I agree with you, we need more of that…as long as it is consetual!!!
I guess finger printing (pre-employment) didn’t stop this crime?
I suppose in 10 years, when everyone will need be finger printed/DNA sampled for their 1st Amendment rights, we can always look back and say it was “For the children” and making everything a “safer world to live in”
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Update: Anthony Farris Jr. has been convicted of sexual abuse of a minor on November 14, 2013 by the Harford County criminal court. Verdict and sentence can be verified by public records. This time, sexual abuse of a minor/legally non-consenting teenager has been vindicated.Sexual predatory/antisocial/inappropriate behaviors have been put on notice and this abuser has been held accountable. Hands up for our justice system!!