Dundalk Man Charged in Sex Abuse of Young Schoolchildren

A Dundalk man has been charged with 14 counts of sex abuse of a minor while he was an elementary school music teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools. Police say some victims were as young as kindergarten-age.

Lawrence Wesley Joynes, 54, of the 1900 block of Ormand Road, was charged by Montgomery County officials with 14 counts of sex abuse of a minor, one count of third-degree sex offense, child abuse and second-degree rape.

Montgomery County police have identified 15 female victims—14 of whom were students in Joynes' music classes at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School.

The abuse occurred from 2005 to 2013 and took place in Joynes' music classroom and on school grounds, according to a statement from Montgomery County police.

The victims were in kindergarten, first and second grades when the abuse occurred.

The 15th victim, who is now an adult, was victimized in the 1990s, according to police.

Joynes was arrested on child pornography charges in Baltimore County in February. Investigations held by Homeland Security and Baltimore County police child exploitation personnel found videos and images of children on his computer.

At that time, Montgomery County officials were informed of the charges against the teacher so they could conduct their own investigation to determine if any of the criminal offenses occurred in that county.

By examining the seized videos and photographs, Montgomery County detectives were able to identify 14 students who were victims of sex abuse, according to the Montgomery County statement. 

Joynes is accused of inappropriate touch and of directing the victims to imitate sexually suggestive gestures.

Joynes has been held since his February arrest at the Baltimore County Detention Center, where bail was set at $1 million.

Montgomery County officials filed the additional charges Aug. 8 via a criminal warrant.

Joynes had taught for Montgomery County Public Schools for about 27 years and had been assigned to New Hampshire Estates for about 10 years.

Detectives are asking anyone who has been a victim and not reported it to police to call the Montgomery County Police Department's Child Exploitation Unit, 240-773-5400.