Bill Would Make Maryland First State to Ban Student Sex Offenders in Public Schools

BALTIMORE COUNTY (WBFF) - State lawmakers could soon take an unprecedented step to make Maryland schools safer. The move comes after a FOX45 News investigation found a sex offender was taking classes at a Baltimore area high school.

Members of the Baltimore County delegation tell Project Baltimore, a bill in this year’s legislative session would make Maryland the first state in the country to ensure it cannot happen again.

When Project Baltimore first broke the news in January 2020, the community was stunned.

“How can this man, this sex offender, be on the registry and still be sitting in a classroom with kids all around him?” asked Parkville High School parent Diane Setzler at the time.

“I was outraged. Taxpayers ought to be outraged,” added Baltimore County Delegate Nino Mangione.

In the fall of 2019, Santino Sudano, a 21-year-old registered sex offender, was enrolled as a student at Parkville High School. In December of that year, he was arrested for a second time and charged with second-degree rape in a case involving a 15-year-old County student.

Soon after, a third underage victim came forward with similar accusations, leading to additional sexual assault charges.

ALSO READ | Registered & Enrolled: "They Knew He Was A Predator"

“I cried, tears of joy. I cheered to my boyfriend that I was finally getting justice after two years,” said Parkville student Kai McDaniel, the third alleged victim, in June 2020, soon after hearing new charges were filed.

Sudano is currently in jail, without bond. His trial is set for May.

“We want our kids safe and we don’t want sexual predators with them,” said Baltimore County Senator Katherine Klausmeier in February 2020.

When FOX45 News broke this story, legislation was introduced in Annapolis to ban sex offenders from being students in a public school. It passed unanimously in the Senate. Governor Larry Hogan supported it. But due to COVID-19, the session ended early before the House could vote.

“I think it's shameful that the superintendent and the principal here could not use some common sense to realize that's not a type of individual that you should let in this school,” said Delegate Joseph Boteler a Republican representing Parkville.

Now, one year later, the bill has been updated and reintroduced as House Bill 0048. Boteler supports the legislation along with sponsors, Delegates Carl Jackson and Harry Bhandari, both Democrats. All three of them represent Parkville.

“It’s a very good bill, and it takes the authority away from the superintendents and the principals like we had here at Parkville from making that decision as to what do we do with these sexual offenders,” said Delegate Boteler.

The legislation bans convicted sex offenders from being students inside Maryland public schools, while setting up alternative means to educate them outside the classroom. The bill also includes a penalty of up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine if someone knowingly allows a sex offender into a school.

The Parkville delegation tells Project Baltimore this bill is precedent setting. No other state in the country has taken similar action to protect students. They hope others will follow Maryland.

“If you're a parent and you've got your child here, you'll know that at least they'll be protected from that kind of an individual,” said Delegate Boteler. “I think we have a responsibility to make sure that our children, when they're coming to these schools and they're being educated, that we protect them.”

ALSO READ | Convicted Sex Offender Enrolled at Parkville High, Arrested Again

The bill is considered emergency legislation, meaning if it’s passed, it will take effect immediately.