A former Maryland middle school teacher, Melissa Curtis, has been sentenced for sexually abusing a 14-year-old student over several years.
Curtis, 32, of Upper Marlboro, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on November 15, 2024.
However, the judge suspended most of the sentence, allowing her to serve just 12 months behind bars, followed by five years of supervised probation.
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After her release, Curtis will be required to register as a sex offender for 25 years and will not have unsupervised contact with minors, except for her own children.
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The abuse began in 2015 when Curtis was 22 and the victim, a student at Montgomery Village Middle School, was just 14 years old.
The victim later came forward in October 2023, revealing that the abuse occurred in multiple locations, including the classroom, Curtis’s car, and at her mother’s home. The victim said Curtis had sex with him more than 20 times.
Curtis, who had taught for about two years in Montgomery County, was arrested after the victim reported the abuse.
A warrant for her arrest was issued on October 31, 2023, and she turned herself in a week later. Curtis left Montgomery County Public Schools in 2017.
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At her trial, Curtis pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree sex offense.
The case has highlighted the ongoing concerns regarding the safety of students in schools and the crucial role of educators in maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
