The following article was released by District 7A Delegates Ryan Nawrocki and Kathy Szeliga about the case at Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School.
Delegates Kathy Szeliga and Ryan Nawrocki are appalled by the report that an ex-Maryland Department of Juvenile Services employee has pleaded guilty to 11 counts of child sex abuse at an all-boys detention center, the Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School, located in Eastern Baltimore County.
According to the reports, Ronald Neverdon exploited and abused over 70 students while employed at the school for nearly 30 years. He bribed them with money and drugs in exchange for their silence.
While Neverdon was abusing children, the State had its back turned on the very children it is trusted to protect.
“The Department of Juvenile Services has failed to protect children while in their care,” said Delegate Kathy Szeliga.
“This is heartbreaking when the sex abuse of so many children went seemingly unnoticed at the Hickey School in our district.”
“This horrifying abuse demands a thorough, independent investigation,” said Delegate Ryan Nawrocki.
“We must determine how it continued for so long, whether warning signs were ignored, and hold accountable anyone who knew of the abuse and failed to protect these children.”