FCPS Employee Allegedly Abused Autistic Boys in Locked Classroom with Lights Off

Charging documents have been released detailing multiple alleged incidents of sexual abuse by John McAleer, a 22-year-old Special Education Instructional Assistant at Oakdale Middle School in Frederick County, Maryland. These documents outline accusations that McAleer would isolate autistic students in a classroom, with the door closed and lights off, or spend time alone with students in separate rooms for “music breaks” intended to reward good behavior. McAleer also allegedly showed other staff members non-explicit videos of students from Oakdale Middle School and Carroll Manor Elementary sometimes referring to the students with terms such as “cutie”.

This article was updated to include that McAleer was accepted into home detention with GPS monitoring following his arrest.

The investigation into McAleer began on September 19, 2025, following a report received by the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) concerning the sexual abuse of a minor. Upon receiving this initial report, Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) promptly placed McAleer on administrative leave. During their subsequent investigation, detectives identified several minor students who allegedly experienced abuse by McAleer while he was employed at Oakdale Middle School. According to the charging documents, McAleer allegedly locked himself inside a classroom with a male autistic middle-school student in two separate incidents, with the door locked and lights off.

Additional disturbing behavior was also noted in the charging documents. The reporting party shared information about McAleer’s conduct, including an inappropriate conversation allegedly overheard regarding the size of a student’s private parts, and instances where McAleer would take a student on music breaks as part of a “token reward system”. These breaks, which occurred daily and multiple times a day for approximately 10-15 minutes, took place in a separate room. During one such break with a substitute teacher, the student reportedly pulled down his pants upon entering the room. The reporting party also stated that they had witnessed McAleer taking pictures of students and showing videos of students to other aides at the beginning of the school year, including showing videos of students from his previous time at Carroll Manor Elementary. While the students in these videos were clothed, the reporting party noted that they were sometimes in unusual poses and that McAleer would make comments such as calling a student a “cutie.”

These findings led to the procurement of search warrants for McAleer’s residence, vehicle, and person on October 5, 2025.

The following morning, at approximately 8:15 a.m., the FCSO’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team executed a search warrant at McAleer’s residence on Basford Road. According to charging documents, McAleer reportedly refused to exit the home and barricaded himself inside a bedroom. Despite attempts by deputies to negotiate, there was no response. Deputies then observed signs of injury, including blood within the bedroom, prompting an emergency entry. McAleer was found to have sustained serious self-inflicted injuries, consistent with an apparent suicide attempt involving a knife. Deputies administered life-saving aid to control his bleeding before he was transported by medical helicopter to an area hospital.

A notebook found during search of McAleer’s room produced a notebook at the foot of John’s bed. The first page of the notebook read:

To: Anyone who cares
From: Johnny Green Perkins
Date: 9-19-25

The following statements were also written on the first page, according to the charging documents: “I’m so sorry. I don’t mean to hurt anyone. I never wanted to go out like this… I fear I have become the monster everyone thinks I am.”

September 19, 2025, is the date McAleer was placed on administrative leave from Oakdale Middle School regarding the allegations made against him.

Following these events, detectives secured an arrest warrant for McAleer. The charges listed include two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, two counts of third-degree sexual offense involving a victim under 14 years of age, and two counts of third-degree sexual offense involving a cognitively impaired victim. On October 12, 2025, McAleer was released from the hospital and subsequently taken into custody by the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., based on the FCSO arrest warrant. He was extradited to Frederick County on October 15, 2025, and booked into the Frederick County Adult Detention Center. On October 16, 2025, McAleer was accepted into the private home detention monitoring program, and will be monitored by GPS at his home in Frederick.

The FCSO has indicated that this investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Detective Lawson at 301-600-2817 or via email at LLawson@FrederickCountyMD.gov.

Original charging documents are below.

Article by Ken Buckler, based upon information from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office.

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