Ex-Baltimore County school employee convicted of sex crime involving 17-year-old student

A former building services worker at Overlea High School was convicted on Monday of a sex crime involving a 17-year-old student.

Donovan Michaud, 30, of Dundalk, pleaded not guilty in Baltimore County Circuit Court to fourth-degree sex offense. But both his lawyer and the prosecutor agreed to a summary of the facts in the case.

Michaud’s attorney, Chris Luber, then argued that his client should be acquitted because he did not meet the definition of a person in a position of authority under the law.

But Circuit Judge Dennis M. Robinson Jr. disagreed and denied the request.

Robinson later handed down a one-year suspended sentence and ordered Michaud to spend three years on supervised probation.

“He makes no excuses and takes full responsibility,” Luber said. “He regrets the whole situation.”

Michaud has two children, ages 3 and 1. He lost his job, Luber said.

When Robinson asked Michaud if he wished to make a statement, he replied, “No.”

Baltimore County Police started investigating Michaud last year after a different building services worker observed him entering a classroom with the student after school, Assistant State’s Attorney Zarena Sita said.

Detectives reviewed surveillance video, interviewed the girl and obtained messages from the chatting app Discord through a search and seizure warrant.

Michaud admitted to investigators that he sent nude photos to the student and arranged to meet her after school in a classroom for sex, Sita said. He stated that he felt he had abused his power and should be fired.

The assistant state’s attorney dropped the remaining charges and noted that the sentencing guidelines called for probation.

Sita said she spoke with the girl, who indicated that she “regrets being involved in this situation” but “thought that this was a consensual interaction.”

The student did not want Michaud to get in trouble because at times he was nice to her, Sita said.

“However,” Sita said, “this is a crime.”

Michaud will have to register for 15 years as a sex offender.