Former teacher accused of raping student tried to flee to Iceland, gets stopped at BWI

WASHINGTON - D.C. Police say a former teacher accused of sexually abusing a student was stopped by Customs and Border Protection at Baltimore Washington International Airport as he attempted to flee the country. 

According to a police report, between Jan. 1, 2014 and May 31, 2014, when the victim was under the age of 18, she engaged in multiple sex acts and was "in a significant relationship" with 56-year-old teacher Mark Anthony Williams, of Fairfax, Va. 

Williams was a teacher at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. According to a letter sent home to families, Williams left the school in 2019. 

The victim reported the abuse on Oct. 16, 2018, but when police began to investigate, they learned that Williams had moved out of the country. 

On Nov. 16, MPD received an alert that Williams was back in the county and the following day, the D.C. Superior Court issued an arrest warrant for the suspect.

CBP agents took Williams into custody at BWI just days later, on Nov. 19, as he attempted to board a flight to Iceland. 

He’s been charged with first-degree sexual abuse of a secondary education student and is awaiting to be extradited from Maryland to D.C.

"This is a very serious charge and Customs and Border Protection officers are pleased to capture this fleeing fugitive and help our law enforcement partners return him to face justice," said Adam Rottman, CBP’s Area Port Director at the Area Port of Baltimore. "CBP’s border security authority helps play a significant role in giving victims a voice and in holding allegedly dangerous perpetrators accountable."

Williams had his first court appearance Tuesday. 

Anyone with additional information is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099.