HAMPSTEAD, Md. — The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a former youth sports coach on charges of child sexual assault.
A victim came forward to detectives in January 2021 accusing 38-year-old Michael Vincent Bonczewski of repeated abuse in the past.
The now 24-year-old victim alleges that Bonczewski sexually assaulted him between 150 and 200 times from 2010 through 2012.
During that stretch the victim played football for the North Carroll Titans and at Manchester Valley High School. Bonczewski was an assistant coach with both teams at the time.
According to charging documents, the alleged abuse occurred at multiple locations throughout Carroll and Baltimore Counties including on school property, outside a fast food restaurant, and gym.
Detectives combed through years of social media messages Bonczewski sent to the victim, some of which were graphic and referenced the abuse that had taken place.
Investigators also noted how Bonczewski called the victim's house dozens of times daily, even after they had stopped meeting.
It was the victim's father who noticed this and confronted his son about he and Bonczewski's relationship.
Eventually, the son admitted to his father that he'd been abused.
Right now officials say there is only one known victim, but fear there could be others.
Prior to when the alleged abuse occurred, Bonczewski spent time volunteering as a football coach at Hereford Middle and High Schools as well as their community rec-league.
Bonczewski last held a landscaping position in 2019 at The Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore City.
Before that he also reportedly volunteered at the Chesapeake Rock Lacrosse Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Hamilton Football League in Baltimore County.
Carroll County Sheriff Jim DeWees says Bonczewski exhibited similar behavior towards minors in the past and was asked to leave or not return to some of the programs he'd volunteered for.
Deputies arrested Bonczewski at his home on August 4 while serving a search warrant.
There, detectives recovered multiple electronic devices which they say contained concerning content, enough so that he's being charged with a count of child pornography, in addition to multiple child sex crimes.
Anyone who believes that they or their child may have been a victim of Bonczewski is asked to call the Sheriff's Office Tips line at 443-373-1684 or email Detective McMillion at mmcmillion@carrollcountymd.gov.
