Former Employees of the Jefferson School Arrested for Sexually Abusing Students

The abuse happened on and off the school campus

*UPDATE: Judge Nicklas set bonds for the three suspects.*

Jermaine Thomas: $50,000 secured bond with conditions that Thomas surrender his passports, pretrial supervision, and no contact with victim or other defendants.

Ariel Eppard: $25,000 secured bond, pretrial supervision, and no contact with victim or other defendants.

Wesley Dean: $25,000 secured bond, pretrial supervision, and no contact with victim or other defendants.

*

Frederick, Md. (DG) – Three adults who are former employees of the Jefferson School in Frederick County were arrested on child sex abuse charges.

Maryland State Police and the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday the charges stem from an investigation that began June 5 when police and Frederick County Child Protective Services were made aware of the possible abuse of two female students, ages 17 and 18.

The former employees are Jermaine Thomas, 35, of Frederick, Ariel Eppard, 27, of Hagerstown, and Wesley Dean, 32, of Montgomery Village.

An investigation revealed Thomas and Eppard committed sexual assaults against one of the victims on multiple occasions both on and off the school campus. Dean committed sex offenses against both teens on school grounds.

The sexual abuse began late in 2018 and continued into 2019.

The investigation is continuing.