On Friday, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office confirmed details regarding the Milton Somers Middle School teacher who is currently on administrative leave following allegations of inappropriate computer images and comments to students.

Information Officer Kristen Timko told The Bay Net that three students accessed Ullman’s personal laptop computer, without permission.

"We responded to the school for the report of suspected child pornography. The students reported seeing a photograph of someone they thought was a minor.”

The sheriff’s office says they were contacted on Dec. 14 at 2 p.m., and shortly thereafter Ullman surrendered the computer to be examined.  A forensic examination of the laptop revealed no evidence of child pornography.

The CCSO concluded that a photo of a fully-clothed adult woman may have been the photo the students had seen.

The investigation is no longer active and the status is “unfounded,” meaning no crime occurred.  If there are no additional witnesses or evidence then the CCSO determines no further investigation is necessary.

In light of the case's “unfounded” status The Bay Net contacted Charles County Public Schools communications representative Shelly Buter to request the status of Ullman’s administrative leave as well as the allegations of inappropriate comments.

Buter consulted with Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Keith Hettel and Deputy Superintendent Ronald Cunningham and relayed to The Bay Net that there is “no further comment at this time.”

The Bay Net confirmed that the status of his administrative leave has not changed since this article was first written and Ullman is still on administrative leave.

The sheriff’s office had no comment regarding Ullman’s alleged inappropriate remarks and would only make the following statement:

“The remarks he made during class were not criminal in nature. The Sheriff's Office will not comment further on any conversation except to say that it was not criminal.”

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Teacher Suspended Amid Allegations of Inappropriate Material, Comments

The Bay Net received word from two Milton Somers Middle School students that the school’s Chorus Director, Mr. Peter Ullman was not at work Monday following allegations that he made inappropriate remarks to female students about their physique, or more pointedly their lack of physique.  He also allegedly had inappropriate material on his school computer, which students claim to have seen.

 Charles County Public Schools’ Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, Keith Hettel told The Bay Net that the Administration is aware of the situation and the allegations against the teacher.

 “We have started an investigation. The matter is being investigated. The teacher has been placed on administrative leave.  Because this is a personnel matter I cannot comment further,” Hettel said.

 It is unclear how students or the school system became aware of potentially inappropriate material on Ullman’s computer.  The Bay Net was also not able to confirm reports of his alleged remarks.

 The Bay Net will follow up with this story as information becomes available.  However, information about the consequences of Mr. Ullman’s actions are not likely to come from CCPS. 

 “…discipline or job performance evaluations involving any employee is not public information and required to be confidential in accordance with the State Government Article 10-616(i). Discussions, if any, about job performance is a personnel matter and not one we share with reporters or anyone else,” CCPS spokesperson, Katie O’Malley-Simpson told The Bay Net last month.

Heather Bartlett is TheBayNet.com’s Waldorf and Arts Correspondent.  In her other life, she’s an artist , co-creator of the political group blog Charles County Café.  To contact her about this article, Waldorf issues or Arts events comment below or email bartlett@thebaynet.com.