Teacher Pleads Guilty To Sex Offense Charges Involving A Student

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A Howard County high school teacher and lacrosse coach has been sentenced to five years, suspending all but two years, after pleading guilty to five counts of sex offense in the fourth degree involving a student at Reservoir High School.

Stephanie Walzl, 26, of Manchester, was sentenced by Howard County Circuit Court Judge Mary Kramer. In June of 2020, Howard County police officers began investigating a report of an inappropriate relationship between Walzl and a student.

Throughout the investigation, detectives uncovered evidence dating back to December 2019, including tens of thousands of text messages between Walzl and the victim that had been exchanged during a six-month time period. The evidence gathered indicated the two were in regular contact with each other before and after school, and throughout the school day, according to the Howard County State's Attorney's Office.

“Teachers and coaches have an influential role in the lives of young people and at no time, ever, should they use their position of authority to take advantage of a student entrusted to their care,” State’s Attorney Rich Gibson said in a statement. “This type of improper conduct will not be tolerated by our office and offenders will be held accountable for their actions.”

Walzl was taken into custody immediately following sentencing and will serve her sentence at the Howard County Detention Center. Walzl will be on supervised probation for five years, must successfully complete sex offender treatment, may not have unsupervised contact with minors, have no contact with the victim and must register as a sex offender.