School Volunteer Faces 8 Federal Charges, Victimized 17 Children

GREENBELT, Md. (WJZ) -- Life in prison. That's the possible punishment a volunteer school aide now faces, accused of sexually abusing children and forcing them to perform sex acts as he recorded video.

A federal grand jury has now indicted Deonte Carraway on child porn charges.

Meghan McCorkell has the disturbing details in this case.

Police in Prince George's County say they've now identified at least 17 alleged victims who were abused in multiple locations, including a school, a church and a community center.

On Deonte Carraway's Twitter, a picture shows him in Baltimore on a class trip with students from Judge Sylvania Woods Elementary--the same school where authorities say he targeted victims.

"Why would you be in school doing something like that?" said one woman.

Investigators say they've found 38 videos showing Carraway having sex with children or forcing them into sex acts with each other.

The videos were shot at the school, at the Zion Praise Tabernacle Lutheran Church--where Carraway conducted the youth choir--and at a local community center.

"All of our child exploitation cases are horrible... This case is particularly disturbing," said Rod Rosenstein, U.S. attorney.

In court documents obtained by WJZ, Carraway tells investigators: "I know it was wrong, I'm a bad person. I'm no child of god for doing this, I know I'm grown."

Police were first alerted after one of the alleged victims' family members found a disturbing image on the child's phone.

The child says Carraway asked him to send a nude photo using the messenger app "Kik."

"These charges have kept many of us up at night," said Angela Alsobrooks, Prince George's County State's Attorney.

The victims--ages 9 to 11.

In one case, investigators say Carraway removed a child from class and ordered him to take his pants off.

When the child refused, Carraway threatened to go to the police and the principal, so the child complied.

Carraway told police: "I know I'm older and I knew it was wrong because kids don't know better and I just lost it."

Investigators fear there could be many more victims. The FBI is assisting in the case.

Carraway is being held on $1 million bond.

If you're concerned a child has been a victim, please call our Child and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Unit at 301-772-4930.