WESTOVER, Md. - Somerset County Sheriff Ronnie Howard tells WBOC the student facing charges for assaulting two teachers at Bennett Middle School in Wicomico County last week, had assaulted a teacher at Somerset Intermediate School last school year.
"There was an altercation that was occurring at the Intermediate school and the teacher tried to intervene to stop the fight and the student in question then assaulted the teacher. And again due to his age we couldn't charge him," Sheriff Howard said.
Howard says the student didn't face charges because under Maryland's Juvenile Justice Reform Act, those under the age of 13 cannot be charged with most crimes.
This school year, the student was now 13 years-old. He was charged with first and second degree assault and reckless endangerment for an assault that injured two teachers and a student.
A Wicomico County Schools spokesperson tells WBOC they cannot comment on an individual student, but did say the system following all Maryland procedures when it comes to student enrollment.
Joan Smith, President of the Wicomico County Education Association says "If the family moved from Somerset into Wicomico County, we are required to accept them into our public schools."
"We cannot allow our children or staff to be threatened or exposed to things that can happen no matter what they are that could endanger them in any way," she continued.
"It's a difficult matter that needs to be handled by the board and we are reaching out to them to work with them to find out what we can do to make this a safer place," Smith said.
Somerset County Public Schools declined to comment on the Somerset Intermediate assault, citing student privacy protections.
