The mother of a middle school girl abused by a former Baltimore County public school teacher lashed out in court Friday at school administrators, saying they did nothing to protect her daughter for months after she complained of the teacher?s inappropriate actions.
“They should have fired him then! But they didn?t, because he?s a teacher and who wants to believe a teacher would prey on a student?” the 13-year-old girl?s mother testified in Baltimore County Circuit Court.
Moments later, Timothy Gounaris, 50, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for committing a sex offense.
A former Pine Grove Middle School teacher, Gounaris, of Baltimore, entered an Alford guilty plea to one count of third-degree sex offense in April, meaning he maintains his innocence, but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him. Prosecutors dropped more serious rape charges.
On Friday, Gounaris acknowledged his guilt in the case and apologized to the girl.
“I had this young lady?s trust and I violated that trust,” Gounaris said. “I blew it. She gave me the gift of genuine friendship and I take friendship, which was precious, and I tarnished it. It?s all my fault.”
Baltimore County Circuit Judge Robert Cahill Jr. said he gave the teacher jail time to send a message.
“A teacher simply can?t behave that way with a young person and if you do, you are going to jail,” the judge said. Gounaris will have to register as a sex offender.
Gounaris taught the girl and engaged in a sexual relationship with her in December 2005, prosecutors said.
The girl?s mother initially became suspicious about Gounaris? close relationship with her daughter and alerted authorities. The girl eventually admitted that “there was touching below the belt,” according to Baltimore County Assistant State?s Attorney Stephanie Porter.
The girl also said Gounaris engaged her in more serious sexual acts, though not intercourse, Porter told the judge.
The girl eventually was more forthcoming after she realized that “he didn?t really love her” and their relationship “wasn?t right,” Porter said.
In court Friday, the girl testified that she had attempted at suicide.
“I?ve become a different person,” she said. “More angry and sad. I thought I was going crazy.”
Gounaris was indicted in January. He taught at Pine Grove Middle until July 1.
Gounaris was teaching at Chinquapin Middle School in Baltimore City this year when he was arrested.
He had been forced to resign from Harford County Public Schools in 2000 amid allegations of a relationship with a former Fallston Middle School girl. He was then hired to teach in Baltimore County and, after new allegations, hired again in Baltimore City.
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