Beloved Teacher Arrested for Alleged Child Abuse After Community Search

A community's desperate search for a missing middle school science teacher concluded with the grim discovery of his arrest on charges of allegedly abusing a minor. Rogie Legaspi, 56, a teacher at Hamilton Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore, Maryland, was reported missing by his family on Sunday, who stated they had not seen him since he left work on Friday.

The disappearance prompted an outpouring of community support, with parents of current and former students offering to help distribute missing person posters online and throughout the neighborhood. "We had everyone searching for him because we were worried," said Carrie Shelley, a parent of former students.

However, as authorities processed the missing persons report, they discovered Legaspi had already been arrested in Pennsylvania. He is currently being held on $5 million bail in Chester County Prison, facing 56 charges that include trafficking, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, sexual abuse of children, corruption, exploitation, unlawful contact, and criminal use of a communication facility.

Charging documents reveal Legaspi allegedly met the victim on social media when the child was 12 years old. The teacher is accused of traveling between Baltimore and Chester County, Pennsylvania, from June 2024 to June 2026 to visit the victim. The alleged abuse began when the child was 13, the same age as some of his students. The victim told police that Legaspi would record their sexual encounters and that he had brought another man to a hotel on one occasion to sexually abuse the boy.

Investigators believe Legaspi visited the child approximately twice a month, often picking him up from school without parental consent. The documents also state that Legaspi allegedly purchased a sex toy for the child and sent him sexually explicit images and videos. The victim reportedly stated that Legaspi would pay him $50 or $100 to "act like he enjoyed it."

Upon investigation, police found numerous sexually explicit images on the victim's phone exchanged between the victim and Legaspi. Authorities identified Legaspi through cellphone records, photographs, vehicle registration, hotel receipts, and surveillance footage.

The news of Legaspi's arrest sent shockwaves through the community. "To find out he wasn't missing, he was arrested for insanely deviant behavior was just a gut punch for most of us," said Melanie Kerr, another parent of one of Legaspi's students. "It was just complete shock and dismay that this person that is supposed to be such an asset in the school is accused of this," added Kate Sam, another parent.

Legaspi has been placed on administrative leave, according to a letter from Principal Natasha Pouncey. The school district stated that it has received no information indicating the arrest involved current or former City Schools students and affirmed that student safety is its highest priority. The district's primary focus is supporting students and maintaining a consistent learning environment.

Legaspi, who has been a teacher for 35 years, joined the Baltimore City School District in 2008. He previously taught in the Philippines and Texas, and also worked at the now-closed Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys charter school. He had also served as an officer for the Baltimore Teachers Union. At Hamilton Elementary/Middle School, Legaspi taught science, including to students in an advanced math and science program for middle and high schoolers.