Guilford Park High School Staff Member Sentenced for Sexual Offense

A former paraeducator at Guilford Park High School has been sentenced after pleading guilty to a third-degree sex offense involving a teenage boy.

William Nelson II, 27, was sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison, with all but 235 days suspended, which accounts for the time he has already served. The incident came to light after the victim reported the encounter to school officials, leading to an investigation by local authorities.

According to police reports, Nelson met the victim through a dating application and engaged in sexual intercourse in his vehicle. Following the allegations, Nelson was placed on administrative leave by the Howard County Public School System.

During the sentencing, the state's attorney requested a three-year prison term, citing the victim's hesitance to testify as a factor in the case. The victim's mother also provided a statement that was considered by the court prior to sentencing.

Ultimately, the court decided on a sentence of time served, with the remainder of the term suspended. In addition to his prison sentence, Nelson will be on five years of supervised probation under the COMET program, which is tailored for individuals convicted of sex offenses in Howard County.

The conditions of his probation include compliance with all program requirements, undergoing a psychosexual evaluation, participating in sex offender treatment, submitting a DNA sample, and having no unsupervised contact with minors, including the victim. Nelson is also mandated to register as a Tier II sex offender, which will keep him on the Maryland Sex Offender Registry for the next 25 years.

Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).