Children who are placed in juvenile detention facilities are supposed to be protected by the adults responsible for supervising and caring for them. Unfortunately, according to a recently resolved criminal case in Baltimore County, multiple boys were instead sexually abused by a man who worked at a state-run juvenile facility and had considerable authority over those who were confined there.
Ronald Neverdon, a former employee of the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School, pleaded guilty on August 17, 2026, to 11 counts of child sexual abuse. Each count involved a separate victim, meaning the guilty plea formally holds Neverdon responsible for abusing 11 boys who had been placed at the facility.
Prosecutors are recommending that Neverdon receive a 30-year sentence, with all but 10 years suspended. This would require him to serve 10 years in the Department of Corrections. The Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office is also expected to request five years of supervised probation.
As part of that probation, Neverdon would be prohibited from contacting the victims or minors. He would also be required to successfully complete sex offender treatment and submit to polygraph examinations. His sentencing is currently scheduled for September 29, 2026.
Civil Lawsuit Alleges Decades of Abuse at State-Run Facility
The recent guilty plea is not the first legal action involving Neverdon or the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School. In 2025, a civil lawsuit was filed by 69 men who allege that Neverdon sexually abused them when they were children confined at the Baltimore County juvenile detention facility.
Neverdon reportedly held several positions at the facility over the years, including unit manager and housing supervisor. These positions allegedly gave him significant authority over the boys who lived there, including control over certain privileges, living conditions, and disciplinary matters.
According to the allegations contained in the civil lawsuit, Neverdon used this authority to target vulnerable boys and discourage them from telling anyone about what was happening. Among other things, the lawsuit claims that he provided certain boys with money, drugs, expensive gifts, and special privileges. He also allegedly threatened to punish them or make their time at the facility more difficult if they disclosed the abuse.
It is important to distinguish between the two legal matters. The criminal case involved 11 victims and resulted in Neverdon pleading guilty to 11 counts of child sexual abuse. The separate civil lawsuit contains allegations involving 69 men and also names the State of Maryland and the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, claiming that the government failed to protect the children in its custody and turned a blind eye to the abuse.
Juvenile detention facilities are responsible for supervising children who are frequently already facing difficult and highly vulnerable circumstances. When an employee uses his position to abuse a child, and when an institution allegedly fails to identify, report, or stop that conduct, the consequences can follow that child long after he leaves the facility.
In fact, many survivors of childhood sexual abuse continue dealing with emotional distress, anxiety, depression, difficulty maintaining relationships, lost income, and various other consequences for years or even decades. Some victims may also remain silent for a long period of time because they were threatened, manipulated, ashamed, afraid they would not be believed, or simply unable to fully understand and confront what happened to them.
Markey & Orsi Represents Survivors of Sexual Abuse in Maryland
Though a criminal conviction can punish an abuser and hold that person accountable to the State of Maryland, it does not necessarily compensate the victims for the harm they have endured. For this reason, survivors may also have the right to pursue civil claims against the person who abused them, as well as any institution whose negligence may have allowed the abuse to occur or continue.
Depending on the circumstances surrounding a case, a civil sexual abuse lawsuit may involve allegations of:
- Negligent hiring or retention
- Inadequate employee supervision
- Failure to investigate reports or warning signs
- Failure to protect children placed in an institution’s care
- Failure to report suspected abuse
- Concealment of prior complaints or misconduct
The Law Offices of Markey & Orsi has represented survivors of childhood and adult sexual abuse for more than 35 years. During that time, our attorneys have handled well over 100 sexual abuse cases involving teachers, clergy members, daycare employees, medical professionals, counselors, residential treatment facility workers, family members, and others who used positions of authority or trust to harm vulnerable individuals.
We understand that speaking about sexual abuse is rarely easy, especially when the abuse happened during childhood or occurred many years ago. Every survivor’s circumstances are different, and there is no single timeline for understanding what happened, disclosing the abuse, or deciding whether to pursue legal action. However, survivors should know that they are not alone and that legal options may be available.
If you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse at a juvenile detention center, school, religious institution, residential treatment facility, medical office, daycare center, or any other organization, the Maryland sexual abuse attorneys at Markey & Orsi are prepared to help. Contact our firm today to tell us what happened, ask any questions you may have, and learn more about how we can fight for you through each phase of the legal process ahead.