Maryland teacher arrested for sex trafficking child in Chester County, Pennsylvania
A 56-year-old Maryland middle school teacher faces 15 counts of sexual assault after allegedly trafficking a child in Chester County for two years.
Baltimore teacher charged with sex trafficking minor in Chester County over two-year period
A 56-year-old middle school teacher from Baltimore, Maryland, was arrested on 18 September after allegedly sexually trafficking a 15-year-old child in Chester County, Pennsylvania, for two years, according to prosecutors. NBC Philadelphia reports that Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe announced the charges at a news conference on Friday.
The suspect, Rogie Legaspi, a teacher at Hamilton Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore, faces charges of sex trafficking, 15 counts of sexual assault on a child, and additional offences. He remains held at Chester County Prison after failing to post $5 million bail. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 19 October 2026.
"This is child sex trafficking. It's a vile crime that has no place in any community and will not be tolerated in Chester County," de Barrena-Sarobe said.
Investigation began after concern for 15-year-old
The investigation started in May when Chester County detectives received a report expressing concern for a 15-year-old victim. During interviews, the victim told investigators that Legaspi — known to him only as "Alex" — first contacted him when he was 12 years old. The two subsequently exchanged phone numbers and began communicating.
Prosecutors said Legaspi sexually abused the victim from June 2024 until June 2026, travelling from Maryland to Chester and Lancaster counties on multiple occasions to meet the victim in person. On more than one occasion, according to prosecutors, Legaspi took the victim to hotels to engage in sexual contact and coerced him into having sex with another man.
Legaspi is also accused of recording the sexual interactions on his cellphone and paying the victim in exchange for sex. "The child reported the defendant would pay him 50 to 100 dollars to have sex," de Barrena-Sarobe said.
Detectives posed as victim to secure arrest
Legaspi was arrested after detectives, pretending to be the victim, invited him back to Pennsylvania. The operation culminated in his arrest on 18 September.
The case came to broader public attention the previous week, when Legaspi's family circulated a missing persons flyer within the school community. On Friday, the school's principal informed parents and staff that Legaspi had not gone missing but had in fact been arrested in Pennsylvania on charges involving a minor.
"I know this man, he taught three of my kids, and we were flabbergasted," Carrie Shelley told NBC10.
School places teacher on leave
Baltimore City Public Schools issued a statement confirming that Legaspi had been placed on leave following his arrest. The statement said the school had not received any information indicating that the incident involved current or former City Schools students.
"At Baltimore City Public Schools, the health and safety of our students is our highest priority, and we hold all staff to rigorous professional standards," the principal's statement read. Parents with concerns about student interactions were directed to contact School Police at 410-396-8588.
De Barrena-Sarobe addressed the broader impact on Legaspi's school community directly. "I'm certain that the parents of this defendant's students in Baltimore have to be beyond disturbed by this news. Teachers have a special place in our society — we trust them not only to watch our children, but to mold them, to teach them life lessons. And this defendant shattered that trust," the district attorney said.
Authorities appeal for information
Prosecutors are urging anyone who knows of a child who may have had concerning contact with Legaspi to call Chester County Detectives at 610-344-6866. Anyone with concerns about the safety of a child can also call 911 or ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313; ChildLine reports can be made anonymously.
Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)