A teacher at Cooper Lane Elementary School in Landover Hills has been apprehended and is now facing serious charges, including sexual abuse of a minor and possession of child pornography.
Identified as Mark Cobb of Bowie, the suspect is 44 years old.
A young girl, who was once a student of the suspect, has become the victim.
Detectives were informed of the accusations against Cobb on August 25, 2024. It was later discovered that the suspect had been exchanging messages with the victim from June 2023 to August 2024.
Officials have reported that Cobb requested and obtained sexually inappropriate photos of the victim during that period.
Cobb was taken into custody on Monday. Following the acquisition of a search warrant, detectives successfully retrieved various pieces of evidence from his residence. A person has been charged with serious offenses including sexual abuse of a minor, possession of child pornography, and promoting and distributing child pornography with intent to possess.
Principal Dr. Micah Pate expressed his concern in a letter addressed to Cooper Lane Elementary School families, describing the recent developments as “deeply unsettling.”
“I want to assure you that the safety and well-being of our students is our top priority, and any behavior that brings harm to a student will not be tolerated,” the letter reads. “Our school is fully cooperating with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation, however, due to the nature of the investigation, there are limitations on the information we can share at this time.”
Dr. Pate emphasized the importance of parents staying vigilant when it comes to their children’s digital activities and online safety.
“Monitoring online interactions and maintaining open communication with your child about their digital habits are critical steps in keeping them safe,” he wrote.
Currently, detectives have not found any more victims at the school. However, they are urging anyone who has information related to this case to contact CVAA detectives at 301-772-4930.