A Silver Spring man is behind bars after police say a woman reported she was raped at a local training academy in early May. The alleged assault happened the night of May 6, shortly after 8 p.m., and detectives say they suspect there may be additional victims. The man is now facing felony sex offense and assault charges while investigators continue to dig into the case.
According to WJLA, the suspect has been identified as 58-year-old Melesse Semegne of Silver Spring. He turned himself in to police on Sunday after the woman escaped the building and called authorities, the outlet reports. WJLA notes that the victim had signed up for a class at Fenote Training Academy and that Semegne was the only person in the building when she arrived. Detectives executed a search warrant at the academy on May 14 to gather evidence, according to the station.
Fenote Training Academy and its leadership
Fenote Training Academy advertises CPR, first aid and phlebotomy courses in Silver Spring. The academy's website lists Dr. Melesse Semegne as president and lead instructor, per Fenote Training Academy. A National Provider Identifier listing links the organization to 8115 Fenton St. in Silver Spring, and those public records show Semegne in a leadership role at the training provider described by investigators.
Police response and how to report
Montgomery County police say the investigation is ongoing and have urged anyone who believes they may also be a victim to contact the department's Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400, per Montgomery County Police. For those who prefer to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted through Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-8477, according to Crime Solvers of Montgomery County. Police have not released further information about any additional potential victims while they continue collecting evidence.
Charges and what comes next
Per WJLA, Semegne is charged with second-degree rape, attempted second-degree rape, two counts of second-degree assault and a fourth-degree sex offense. Police say those counts stem from the May 6 incident, and investigators are working to determine whether there are other alleged victims. The case is moving through Montgomery County's court system, and authorities continue to ask anyone with information to contact detectives or Crime Solvers.
Why it matters in Montgomery County
Fenote and similar private training outfits show up in state and county directories as go-to options for childcare, CPR and first aid instruction, which highlights how far their reach extends in the local workforce training ecosystem. The Maryland early childhood training roster lists approved trainers and includes Semegne's name among instructors, per the Maryland State Department of Education. For now, officials say they are focused on identifying any additional possible victims and building the evidence needed for prosecution.
