A teacher at Sidwell Friends School in northwest Washington is facing allegations of child sex abuse.
Robert "Pete" Peterson, 65, has been charged with sexual abuse of a minor, second-degree sexual assault and a fourth-degree sexual offense involving a minor.
Until this year, Peterson taught seventh- and eighth-grade social studies at Sidwell Friends. He was also the director of Camp Corsica, Sidwell's summer camp on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
Sidwell told The Chestertown Spy that Peterson was placed on leave when the allegations first surfaced and was fired Jan. 14, when charges were filed. The school had notified police, and in a statement called the allegations "deeply troubling."
The student was hired to do yard- and housework around Petersen's home, according to Montgomery County charging documents.
Sidwell Friends is one of the area's most prestigious schools. President Barack Obama's two daughters are currently enrolled in Sidwell.
