Crime & Safety
No Verdict Yet in Case of Counselor Accused of Sexually Abusing Deaf Children
After a day of deliberations, the jury did not issue a verdict on whether a 38-year-old school counselor sexually abused seven young girls at the Maryland School for the Deaf in Columbia.
By Andrew Metcalf
The 12 members of a Howard County Jury will meet for a second day Wednesday after eight hours of deliberation in the case of a school counselor accused of inappropriately touching seven girls at the Maryland School for the Deaf in Columbia.
Closing arguments in the trial of Clarence Taylor, 38, of Gwynn Oak, finished on Friday. The court was closed Monday for Veterans Day.
Taylor, who is hearing disabled, used sign language to communicate with his family and friends or simply sat as he waited all day for a verdict.
The jury asked multiple questions of Judge William V. Tucker, with each being answered in private conferences with attorneys and Taylor.
At 4:15 p.m. the judge suggested members of the jury take a vote about whether more time will result in a verdict. He reminded the jury "your verdict must be unanimous." After about five minutes the jury returned and passed a note to Tucker.
Tucker then recessed the jury and ordered them back at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday to continue to deliberate.
Seven teenage girls accused Taylor of touching them on their breasts and buttocks during a period between 2008 and 2010 when they were between the ages of 10 and 13 and students at the Columbia campus of the Maryland School for the Deaf, according to court testimony.
On Friday, Taylor denied any wrongdoing during his testimony, saying through an interpreter that the girls were lying. He said he may have accidentally touched the girls during chest bump handshakes and activities, but that it was never sexual in nature.
The state's case revolves around the testimony of the seven girls and a police interview of Taylor in which he said he may have accidentally touched the girls.
Taylor's defense attorney Brandon Mead said in closing arguments that the state presented no physical evidence against Taylor and no evidence that any touching was done in a sexual manner. Mead pointed out that some of the girls may not have been taking the trial seriously, including one who was laughing on the stand during her testimony.
If convicted, Taylor faces up to 25 years in prison for each charge of sexual abuse of a minor.
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