A grand jury indicted a Prince George’s County school board member Tuesday, saying he had sex with a 15-year-old boy.
“These are shocking allegations,against a former teacher, a current school board member, who allegedly used his position of authority to have an ongoing sexual relationship with a student,” ” Prince George’s State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey said.
On May 9, Nathaniel Thomas turned himself in to authorities on the third-degree sex offense over accusations of having sex with a 15-year-old boy whom he taught at Forestville Military Academy.
The alleged victim now is 17.
“It’s troubling,” Ivey said. “And now there is a chance to resolve it in court, and we’ll move very aggressively with this case.”
Thomas, who has been out on bail since the day of his arrest, faces up to 10 years in jail.
Ivey spokesman Ramon Korionoff said a trial date should be set for sometime within the next four months.
While the criminal case against Thomas proceeds, he also is in jeopardy of losing his position on the school board.
A day after Thomas turned himself into police, the Prince George’s County Board of Education voted unanimously to recommend the state fire the 26-year-old.
The school board made its recommendation following a briefing by an attorney it hired to investigate Thomas’ actions in taking an 18-year-old county high school student to a conference in San Francisco in April.
The report alleges that Thomas also provided alcoholic beverages and played “sexually suggestive” games with several minors, including the 18-year-old at his Forestville home.
Schools spokesman John White said Tuesday the board members are “saddened and angered” about the Thomas situation.
On June 25, the Maryland State Board of Education will hold a hearing relating to Thomas’ position on the school board.
