A Maryland social services agency was housing children in its care in a hotel, along with their caregivers, according to a hotel spokesperson and the Randallstown NAACP, which sent a letter to Gov. Wes Moore this month outlining an April incident in which one juvenile was accused of raping someone at the Home2 Suites in Owings Mills.

Ryan Coleman, the president of the Randallstown NAACP, sent the letter to Moore on Oct. 4 detailing the alleged attack. According to the letter, a juvenile offender who had previously been convicted of rape in Baltimore City “was placed at the Home 2 Suites and raped … a woman at the hotel.”

Home2 Suites confirmed in a statement that the matter involved the juvenile’s “assigned caregiver.” A source confirmed to FOX45 News that the juvenile was charged with rape as a result of the incident, but asked to remain anonymous because they’re not authorized to speak about the incident.

Coleman claimed in his letter that the juvenile was in the custody of the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services at the time, but Home2 Suites told FOX45 the juvenile was in foster care with the Baltimore County Department of Social Services.

“Home2 Suites Owings Mills previously had an arrangement with Baltimore County Social Services in which the county could purchase room rentals for temporary placement of children in foster care, along with their caregivers,” a Home2 Suites spokesperson said. “This arrangement is no longer in place.”

The Maryland Department of Human Services is the umbrella agency overseeing all local social services officers in the state. Secretary of Human Services Rafael López was appointed to his position in 2023 by Moore.

The Baltimore County Police Department declined to provide a copy of the incident report to FOX45, saying the document is part of an “ongoing investigation and cannot be released at this time.” A Public Information Act request was denied as well. No evidence of the incident exists in publicly accessible court records, likely due to laws preventing the disclosure of information about juvenile criminal activity.

“We’re really focusing hard on trying to uplift and keep the quality of life in Baltimore County and especially in Black communities,” Coleman told FOX45 in an interview. “We just can’t have this sort of thing happening.”

Coleman added that he has not heard back from the governor or any elected officials regarding his Oct. 4 letter, but he remains “hopeful” he will receive responses.

The Randallstown NAACP got involved after a hotel employee contacted members, Coleman’s letter said. The branch then “started to monitor crime stats at the hotel and surrounding area,” the letter said.

Moore did not immediately respond to requests for comment from FOX45 by The Baltimore Sun’s press time, nor did the Baltimore County Department of Social Services or the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services.

It is unclear whether the juvenile, who Coleman said had already been convicted of rape, was under Maryland Department of Juvenile Services monitoring at the time. Courts have the power to place juveniles in DJS custody or supervision after certain types of cases are adjudicated. DJS did not return a request for comment about the incident.

Maryland law stipulates certain rape charges against juveniles can be elevated to adult court. That stipulation only applies if the suspect is at least 16 years old and is charged with committing or attempting to commit second-degree rape, according to the Maryland People’s Law Library.

Several local and state officials, including Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones and Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones, did not respond to inquiries from FOX45 Thursday regarding the alleged incident.

A spokesperson for Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski Jr. provided no details when reached for comment, saying the case is still active.

“The allegations are horrific, deeply disturbing, and, if true, Baltimore County will support every effort to hold individuals responsible and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the spokesperson said.

Gary Collins contributed to this report. Got a story idea or news tip? Email Julian Baron at jtbaron@sbgtv.com or follow on X @JulianTBaron.