From The Banner · Ashley Clarke · · 1m 30s
Seton teacher arrested on CSAM charges
Maryland State Police arrested a 70-year-old Bladensburg high school teacher at his College Park home Tuesday morning.
In brief
Maryland State Police arrested a 70-year-old Bladensburg high school teacher at his College Park home Tuesday morning. A teacher who cleared every Maryland background check was arrested weeks into the job, and the school fired him the same day police made contact. Originally reported by The Banner.
Arrest at 8 a.m.
Maryland State Police arrested Donald Kirk Marchand III, 70, at his College Park home shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.
Search warrant served
Local, state and federal investigators executed a warrant at the house and seized evidence during the arrest.
He taught at an all-girls school
Marchand was a social studies teacher at Elizabeth Seton High School, an all-girls Catholic school in Bladensburg. His photo vanished from the school site by Tuesday afternoon.
Fired the same day
School president Dr. Lisa Grillo said Marchand was terminated Tuesday after police contacted the school, calling him a short-term faculty member.
“The charges "based on alleged conduct beginning in September 2026 require a removal from our school."”
School says students weren't involved
Grillo said the school is confident there is no connection between the charges and its students or staff. Marchand had passed all Maryland state educational background checks before hiring.
“we are confident that there is no connection between the charges and our students or other staff”
Task force case, bail pending
The case began earlier this month with the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Police would not detail the timeline. Marchand is held at the county jail awaiting bail review.
What matters most
A teacher who cleared every Maryland background check was arrested weeks into the job, and the school fired him the same day police made contact.
