Second arrest in Harford County in two weeks

BEL AIR, Md. - At Joppatowne High School, he was ‘Coach’ Farris---the head track coach and an assistant in football, but it was at Bel Air High School where 24-year old Anthony Leon Farris, Jr. served as a classroom assistant and allegedly used his office for sexual rendezvous with a 16-year old girl.

"The sex abuse of a minor is up to a 25 year penalty.  The other count is a 10 year penalty," said Harford County State’s Attorney Joseph Cassilly as listed the charges, including the sex abuse of a minor and perverted practices that carry some serious time if Farris is convicted.

This is the second classroom assistant, or inclusion helper as they’re called, to be arrested and charged with such charges this month.

A few weeks ago, police busted 35-year old Amanda Miller at North Harford High School on charges she had sex with a 15-year old boy.

"You can't tolerate this stuff,” said Cassilly, “You hope that people that take positions in the school system understand that the rule is 'absolutely not'---you may not fraternize, you may not have a relationship with a student regardless as to whether the student consents or not.  So we will prosecute these... every one of them."

The school system actually placed Farris on administrative leave last month when the allegations first surfaced, and then terminated his employment on Friday when Bel Air Police arrested him at the system’s central office in Bel Air.

Farris was transported to the Harford County Detention Center after his arrest and made bail the same day.