A former Montgomery County, Maryland, public school teacher pleaded guilty Friday to a number of intercourse crimes in opposition to youngsters after his 2017 conviction was vacated.
A former Montgomery County, Maryland, public school teacher pleaded guilty Friday to a number of counts of sexual abuse in opposition to youngsters after his 2017 conviction was vacated.
In a information launch, prosecutors stated 57-year-old John Vigna pleaded guilty to one rely of little one sexual abuse and three counts of sexual abuse of a minor in opposition to a quantity of students at Cloverly Elementary School in Silver Spring.
The abuse passed off from 2001 to 2016, in accordance to prosecutors.
Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy stated that Vigna’s admission of guilt was essential to the students on this case, including that it “prevents additional trauma” to them.
“This is an applicable decision given all of the challenges that might come up ought to the case go to trial,” McCarthy stated within the information launch. “The defendant’s admission of guilt following almost a decade of denial is vindication for the victims and the group.”
Vigna was granted a new trial after his 2017 conviction was vacated in July 2023, due to what his legal professionals referred to as “ineffective help of counsel” throughout his first trial.
He had been serving a 48-year sentence after being convicted of sexually abusing the students he taught.
Vigna is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7 and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney Office will ask for a 30-year suspended jail sentence with probation.
The state’s lawyer’s workplace stated that he can have be registered as a intercourse offender for the remaining of his life.
Get breaking information and day by day headlines delivered to your electronic mail inbox by signing up right here.
© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This web site is just not supposed for customers situated inside the European Economic Area.
