An elementary school teacher in Maryland was arrested after he was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy by exposing himself.
The Maryland State Police said that troopers arrested Maurice Cotton, Sr. on Tuesday, October 20, and he was charged with sexual abuse of a minor, second-degree assault and fourth-degree sexual assault, according to WMDT.
Cotton, 61, is currently being held without bond at the Somerset County Detention Center.
Authorities learned of the incident when they received a report of an alleged sexual assault that took place on October 3, and the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division – Eastern Region launched an investigation into the matter.
A 16-year-old boy reported that he was victim of an unwanted sexual assault at Hilltop Barber Shop, according to court documents obtained by the outlet. Cotton – who worked at both the barber shop and East Salisbury Elementary School – had been cutting the victim’s hair for 11 years, and he had a preexisting relationship with both the teen and his family.
The victim said that his mother took him to the barbershop and she waited in her vehicle as Cotton cut his hair.
He claimed that Cotton exposed himself during the haircut and forced him to perform a sexual act. Cotton then allegedly groped the victim while he was sitting in the barber’s chair.
Following the alleged assault, Cotton told the teenager to “not to tell nobody.”
The victim told authorities that he was in shock during the assault and felt he could not leave. Once the haircut was done, the victim paid Cotton and left the barber shop.
Later that evening, the teen sent his mother a text message and asked if he could see another barber because he no longer felt comfortable with Cotton. The mother saw the text the following morning and asked her son why he felt that way, and the victim began crying as he told his mother what had happened.
The victim’s mother then went to Cotton’s home to confront him about her son’s claims, and she told police that Cotton admitted to touching the victim. Cotton allegedly told the mother that the boy had touched him before he became confrontational and angry.
Cotton later spoke to police and denied sexually touching the minor victim, though he did admit that physical contact involving his genitalia had taken place.
He went on to claim that the victim had touched him first. Cotton admitted that he told the minor to not tell his mother about the incident, though he said he would tell her if something similar happened again.
Following his arrest, East Salisbury Elementary School said that they have taken immediate steps to ensure Cotton no longer has contact with his students.
“Maurice Cotton, employed as a teacher at East Salisbury Elementary School, has been charged with several offenses by the Maryland State Police Princess Anne Barrack. These charges are unrelated to his position at the school,” the school said in a statement. “None of the alleged offenses occurred at East Salisbury Elementary or on any Wicomico County Public Schools property.”
Police have asked that anyone who may have been a victim of Cotton or has information about the case contact Sgt. Jonathan Pruitt at jonathan.pruitt@maryland.gov or 443-260-3700.
It is not currently clear if Cotton has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following his arrest. The Maryland State Police had no additional information to share when contacted by Us about the case.
