Ex-Montgomery County elementary teacher convicted of sex abuse

SILVER SPRING, Md. - A former Montgomery County elementary school teacher was convicted after officials said he had inappropriate contact with multiple female students.

The Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office announced that John Vigna, of Silver Spring, was convicted on four counts of sex abuse of a minor and five counts of third-degree sex offense.

The 50-year-old taught third, fourth, and fifth grade over a 20-year span at Cloverly Elementary School in Silver Spring.

Vigna was arrested in June of 2016 after five female students, both current and former, told authorities they had been touched inappropriately while sitting in his lap during the school day.

Vigna testified at trial that he had never had intentional inappropriate contact with students.

He was scheduled to be sentenced in August and could face up to 25 years in prison for each count of sex abuse of a minor and up to 10 years for each third-degree sex offense, according to the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office.