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A teacher and soccer coach at Kent County Middle School in Chestertown has been arrested and charged with multiple sex offenses after an alleged victim reported being inappropriately touched during an after-school event.
James Scott Beck, 60, of Chestertown, is among the most recent cases of a Kent County Middle School Teacher Accused of a Sex Offense Against a Student in Maryland to be brought before law enforcement. Beck was charged on May 14, 2026, following an investigation by the Chestertown Police Department that began with a complaint filed in late April.
According to the Chestertown Police Department, the department received a complaint on April 23, 2026, alleging that a 12-year-old female student was inappropriately touched at the school. Investigators determined that the alleged victim reported being touched on her chest by Beck during an after-school event at which he was serving as a soccer coach.
Beck was employed as a teacher at Kent County Middle School at the time of the alleged incident.
Following the investigation, authorities obtained an arrest warrant and charged Beck with third-degree sex offense involving a child under 14, two counts of fourth-degree sex offense, and second-degree assault.
Beck was initially held without bond at the Kent County Detention Center following his arrest. He was released the following day on a $10,000 unsecured bond and placed on GPS monitoring while his case moves forward.
Kent County Public Schools officials notified families and staff on May 15, 2026, that Beck had been immediately placed on administrative leave following the complaint.
"The arrest did not happen on school grounds and is the result of a law enforcement investigation initiated after we received a complaint," the district said in its statement. "We take all concerns brought to our attention very seriously and take action in accordance with our policies and procedures."
School officials directed all further questions regarding the criminal matter to law enforcement and the Kent County State's Attorney's Office.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. The Chestertown Police Department is asking anyone with additional information or anyone who believes they may have been a victim to contact Sgt. Chris Schwink at 410-778-1800.
The information above was sourced from myeasternshoremd.com as of May 26, 2026. The attorney commentary below is not specifically about the case reported above. Attorney commentary provided is information about these types of cases in the justice system.
When a teacher and coach at a public school is accused of a sex offense involving a minor student, families often do not realize the full scope of legal options available to them outside of the criminal process. Legal Herald editor Paul Amess spoke with Maryland sexual abuse attorney Aaron Blank about the civil legal avenues that may be available to families in cases involving alleged sexual misconduct by a school employee.
Paul Amess: Aaron, when a teacher who also serves as a coach is accused of a sex offense against a minor student during a school-sanctioned event, what civil legal options may be available to families?
Aaron Blank: Cases involving alleged sexual misconduct by a school employee during an official school activity raise very significant questions about institutional accountability. Families may have grounds to pursue civil claims not only against the individual accused, but also against the school district itself. When a school places an employee in a dual role — teacher and coach — it assumes a heightened duty to supervise that person's interactions with students. If there were warning signs that went unaddressed, or if proper oversight was not in place, the institution can face civil liability.
Paul Amess: In cases where an alleged incident occurs during an after-school activity rather than during regular school hours, does that affect the school's potential liability?
Aaron Blank: Not necessarily. School-sanctioned after-school activities and events fall within the scope of a school's duty of care. The setting does not have to be a classroom for institutional responsibility to apply. What matters is whether the employee was acting in an official capacity and whether the school had appropriate safeguards in place to protect students during those activities.
Paul Amess: What would you say to a family in Maryland whose child may have experienced similar conduct from a teacher or coach at their school?
Aaron Blank: My advice is to act quickly and speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Time limits apply to civil claims in Maryland, and the earlier a family begins the process of understanding their legal rights, the better positioned they will be. No family should feel that they have to wait for the criminal case to play out before exploring what civil options may be available to them. A confidential, no-cost consultation is the most important first step.
If your child was allegedly subjected to a sex offense, inappropriate touching, or any form of sexual misconduct by a teacher, coach, or school employee in Maryland, you may have the right to pursue civil action and recover financial compensation. Contact The Legal Herald today to be connected with an experienced Maryland sexual abuse attorney for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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