Maurice Cotton Sr.
Introduction
Maurice Cotton Sr. is a 61-year-old Westover, Maryland man who worked as a teacher at East Salisbury Elementary School and as a barber in Princess Anne, and who was arrested on October 20, 2026, on charges including sexual abuse of a minor, second-degree assault, and fourth-degree sexual offense. He is being held without bond at the Somerset County Detention Center following the charges, which Maryland State Police filed after an investigation into the reported sexual assault of a 16-year-old.
Background Information
Police identified Cotton as a teacher at East Salisbury Elementary School, a Wicomico County elementary school, and as a barber working in Princess Anne, the Somerset County seat where the alleged assault was reported.
According to Maryland State Police, Cotton and the teenage complainant were believed to be acquaintances. The charges were filed following consultation with the Somerset County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation
Charged, not convicted. Cotton faces criminal charges that have not been tried. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Investigators received a report on October 3, 2026, alleging that the 16-year-old had been sexually assaulted at a barbershop in Princess Anne. The Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division’s Eastern Region handled the investigation that followed.
Cotton was arrested on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, and charged with sexual abuse of a minor, second-degree assault, and fourth-degree sexual offense. Authorities have not released a detailed account of the alleged conduct beyond the location and the relationship between the two, and the affidavit supporting the charges has not been made public in the coverage reviewed for this page.
Public Reaction and Consequences
Maryland State Police issued a public appeal for additional information, asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Cotton, or who has information relevant to the investigation, to contact detectives at 443-260-3700. The appeal signals that investigators are treating the possibility of additional complainants as an open question.
The reported involvement of a sitting elementary school teacher in a child sexual assault case drew immediate regional coverage on the Delmarva peninsula. Neither Wicomico County Public Schools nor the school district’s employment status for Cotton was addressed in the initial charging announcement, which centered on the criminal case.
Current Status
Cotton was being held without bond at the Somerset County Detention Center as of the charging announcement. His case proceeds following consultation between state police investigators and the Somerset County State’s Attorney’s Office, which will carry the prosecution.
Whether Cotton is indicted on all three counts, whether additional alleged victims contact detectives through the tip line, and what employment action his school district takes remain open questions as of the latest coverage. No plea or public statement from Cotton or an attorney representing him had been reported.
Impact on Their Career/Life
Cotton’s career as an elementary school teacher and working barber is effectively over while he remains detained without bond on child sexual assault charges, whatever the ultimate outcome of the criminal case. The charges, the detention, and the police department’s public appeal for additional potential victims now stand as the public record attached to his name in both of his professions.
Sources
- WBOC: “East Salisbury Elementary teacher charged in sexual assault investigation” source