Howard County Substitute Middle School Teacher Charged In Child Porn Case

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (WJZ)—Howard County Police have charged a long-term substitute teacher at Folly Quarter Middle School with possession of child pornography.

Jeremy Sykes, 43, was arrested Thursday night at his home in Columbia.

Police received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that numerous uploads of child pornography had been traced to the same user on two separate computers in Howard County. One computer was traced to Sykes' home and the other to the Howard County Public School System.

Detectives learned that Sykes has been a teacher at Folly Quarter Middle School in Ellicott City since October 2013.

Investigators have conducted searches at his residence and at the school.

According to the HCPSS, Sykes has been removed from the school system's list of approved substitutes and is banned from entering any HCPSS property.

Police have no indication that any of the children pictured in the photos are students from Folly Quarter Middle School.

Detectives are continuing to investigate and even spoke with some of Sykes' students at the school on Friday.

Following his arrest, Sykes was released by the court on his own recognizance.

Anyone with information, including students, parents or school employees, is encouraged to call the HCPD Child Abuse Section at 410-313-2630. Callers can remain anonymous.

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