Monday, February 8, 2016

Elementary School Volunteer/Community Choir Director Arrested for Producing Child Pornography & Child Sex Abuse


Detectives Urge Possible Additional Victims to Come Forward

Deonte Carraway


Update February 13, 2016:  Through the course of our investigation, we have learned Deonte Carraway victimized a child at Zion Praise Tabernacle Lutheran Church on Laurel Bowie Road in Bowie. Additionally, we have now determined there are 16 victims in this case. As our detectives continue working this case, we will update the community only when we learn of any additional locations where abuse took place, uncover substantial developments or place any additional charges in the case.

The Prince George’s County Police Department arrested a Glenarden man for child sexual abuse and producing child pornography. The suspect is 22-year-old Deonte Carraway of the 7900 block of Glenarden Parkway. The preliminary investigation reveals the suspect targeted victims and videotaped sexual acts between minors during the school day at Judge Sylvania Woods Elementary School in Glenarden. Detectives believe sex abuse and/or child pornography was also produced at the Glenarden Municipal Center, Theresa Banks Memorial Aquatic Center as well as in private homes. 

Carraway was a paid assistant at the elementary school during the 2014-2015 school year. He was a volunteer teacher’s assistant during the current school year. Carraway was also the director for the Glenarden Voices of Youth Choir.

On February 4, 2016, at 7:00 pm, a victim’s relative called police after discovering a nude photo on the child’s cell phone. That photo had been electronically sent to Carraway through the “Kik” messenger app. On February 5th, Prince George’s County Police detectives interviewed and arrested Carraway. Throughout the weekend, detectives began unravelling what is turning into a wide-ranging investigation. Preliminarily, detectives have identified at least 10 known victims ranging in age from 9-13. Detectives so far have uncovered approximately 40 videos showing the young victims performing sexual acts on each other or alone at the direction of Carraway.  They also believe Carraway sexually abused some of the victims. 

Carraway is charged with 10 counts of felony child pornography, sexual abuse of a minor and second degree sexual offense. Additional charges are likely. Carraway has admitted his involvement in the manufacturing and production of child pornography. He’s in the custody of the Department of Corrections on a one-million-dollar bond. The Prince George’s County Police Department is working closely with Dr. Kevin Maxwell, the Superintendent of the Prince George’s County Public Schools System, regarding this ongoing investigation.

If you’re concerned a child has been a victim, please call our Child and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Unit at 301-772-4930. We anticipate this investigation will last several months. As significant updates occur, we will inform our community.


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