Volunteer sentenced for sex offense
Man receives 18 months for encounters with Severna Park student
A 57-year-old Millersville man who served as a volunteer with the Severna Park High School marching band was sentenced to 18 months in prison this week after admitting to a sexual relationship with a student.
Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Miller had sought the 18-month sentence for Wilbur Jesse Hildebrand — the maximum allowed under a plea agreement — after Hildebrand pleaded guilty in July to three counts of fourth-degree sex offense.
Prosecutors said Hildebrand met the victim when she was 16 years old, and that the two had sexual encounters in hotel rooms and at their homes. Miller alleged Hildebrand used personal manipulation and a cunning personality to “control every aspect of a child’s life.”
The Baltimore Sun does not identify victims of sexual abuse.
During testimony before Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Michele Jaklitsch before Wednesday’s sentencing, the victim’s mother — whom The Sun is also not naming to protect the victim’s identity — said Hildebrand manipulated her daughter into weekly sexual encounters. The victim is now 19.
Miller said the mother pursued charges after finding Facebook messages between her daughter and Hildebrand on the girl’s iPad.
Hildebrand and his attorney, Emily Levenson, attempted to frame the abuse as an aberration. Levenson noted Hildebrand was married with three children, and said “the first 55 years of his life were spent being a law-abiding citizen.”
In a statement prior to sentencing, Hildebrand apologized to both the victim’s family and his own, saying: “I Del. Mary Washington will challenge am just totally ashamed, absolutely Baltimore Sen. Joan Carter Conway for the ashamed of my decisions.” Democratic nomination next year, putting
He said the victim’s family “absoyet another senior city lawmaker’s seat in lutely had a trust in me that I betrayed.”play.
Calling Hildebrand “manipulative” Washington, 55, said Thursday she filed and “predatory,” the judge denied his this week to run in the June 26, 2018, attorney’s request to spare him jail primary for the 43rd District Senate seat. time. Hildebrand will also be required The two-term delegate will try to oust the to register as a sex offender for 15 years only Baltimore senator who chairs a and have no contact with minors, the standing committee. victim or Severna Park High School. “The seat doesn’t belong to anyone. It
He would have faced up to 40 years belongs to the people of the district,” in prison on the seven charges that Washington said. “It’s an opportunity to were initially filed, but he pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor sex offenses expand and build upon the work I’m under an agreement reached with the already doing as a delegate.” Anne Arundel County state’s attorney’s Conway, 66, said Thursday she will office. definitely seek re-election next year; she
The victim’s mother also called on had previously left room for doubt. As chair Anne Arundel County public schools to of the Senate Education, Health and do a better job screening applicants. Environmental Affairs Committee, Conway
School officials could not be reached said she wants to serve another four years to for comment, but spokesman Bob deal with an expected overhaul of the way Mosier had previously said Hildebrand Maryland finances public education. She was never a school employee and had has served in the Senate since 1996, when passed two background checks in the she was appointed to fill a vacancy. last four years. Washington becomes the second Balti
more delegate to formally announce a bid to Hildebrand