An Ellicott City man faces charges of sexual abuse of a minor and other sex offenses after turning himself into Howard County police. Joshua Duerk, 54, is accused of abusing a 16-year-old boy, an incident that allegedly took place at Duerk's residence on August 16. According to a statement from the Howard County Police Department, the police were informed of the allegation on August 17 and promptly initiated an investigation into the matter.
Mr. Duerk, who owns a local business and has employed juveniles previously, surrendered to the authorities on August 23, and his bond was set at $100,000. After posting the amount required, Duerk was released from the Howard County Detention Center on Aug. 27. While being a community figure known for his past as a volunteer coach at Centennial High School from 2007-2010 and a frequenter of school athletic events, this development raises concerns about his interactions with minors over the years.
The police department has made a public call for any additional victims or individuals with relevant information to come forward. They have provided the contact details for the police at 410-313-STOP and the email [email protected], urging people to reach out if they have any knowledge that could aid the investigation.
