Howard County Police arrested a high school employee for allegedly sexually abusing a 15-year-old student, officials announced Thursday.

William Nelson II, a special education paraeducator at Guilford Park High School in Jessup, was charged with one count of third-degree sexual offense, online court documents show.

Officials said Nelson and a 15-year-old boy, who is a student at Guilford Park High School, met through a dating app. Police say the pair engaged in sexual intercourse in Nelson’s car off campus Wednesday.

The student reported the incident to school staff, who police say then alerted them. An email sent to the Howard County Public School System community Thursday evening said Nelson would be on administrative leave.

Nelson has worked with the Howard County Public School System since November 2024. School officials said in the email Nelson previously worked as a substitute teacher at Long Reach High School, Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School, Laurel Woods Elementary School, Burleigh Manor Middle School and Cedar Lane School.

Nelson is due in court Dec. 11 and had no attorney listed at the time of publication.

Guilford Park High School in Jessup serves around 1,650 students. A part of the $4.6 million increase for the Howard County Police Department this year was meant to support staffing and operational costs, including adding a school resource officer at Guilford Park High School.