A Howard County paraeducator, William Nelson II, 26, was sentenced Monday in Howard County Circuit Court to time already served, a total of 253 days, after pleading guilty to a third-degree sexual offense for having sex with a 15-year-old he matched with on the Grindr dating app. The judge ordered Nelson to register as a Tier II sex offender, placed him on five years of supervised probation, and barred him from having unsupervised contact with minors.
How Authorities Say The Encounter Happened
Charging documents and court filings, as reported by CBS Baltimore, state that Nelson met the teen on Grindr, told the student he worked at Guilford Park High School and arranged to meet near the student’s home. There, investigators say, the two had sexual contact in Nelson’s car. The teen disclosed the encounter to a school staff member the next day, which triggered a report to a school resource officer and then a full criminal investigation.
Sentence, Evidence And Courtroom Notes
Nelson pleaded guilty to a third-degree sexual offense, according to The Baltimore Banner. Prosecutors told the judge that DNA taken from a condom found on the street matched Nelson’s DNA and read a statement from the victim’s mother. Circuit Judge Philip Nichols Jr. handed down a 10-year sentence, then suspended all but the 253 days Nelson had already served. The court added five years of supervised probation, along with required treatment and a psychosexual evaluation.
School System Records And Response
The Howard County Public School System confirmed that Nelson worked at Guilford Park High School and had short-term assignments at several other schools in the county. According to a district news post, he was placed on administrative leave once the charges were reported. The notice lists his prior assignments and directs families to contact law enforcement if they have any concerns.
Defendant’s Statement And Custody Credit
Addressing the court, Nelson said, “I am not perfect. I made a mistake that day and I have learned from my actions,” according to court filings and reporting by CBS Baltimore. Prosecutors and defense attorneys sparred over the appropriate punishment, and the judge ultimately credited Nelson with the 253 days he had spent in jail since his November 2025 arrest.
Registration, Restrictions And Community Impact
The sentence requires Nelson to register as a Tier II sex offender, participate in mandatory treatment and undergo evaluations, and have no contact with the victim or unsupervised contact with minors, The Baltimore Banner reported. The hearing included a translated statement from the victim’s family describing the continuing impact of the encounter and underscored competing arguments in court over what level of punishment would best serve both the community and the needs of the victim.
