Key Takeaways
- Ronald Neverdon, a former staff member at the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School, is now facing over 100 criminal charges tied to at least 11 identified victims
- Civil lawsuits allege as many as 69 survivors were abused over decades
- The alleged abuse spans from the late 1960s through the early 1990s, highlighting systemic failure over generations
- Survivors are now coming forward under the Maryland Child Victims Act, seeking long-overdue accountability
Who Is Ronald Neverdon?
Ronald Neverdon, now in his late 70s, worked for decades at the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School, a state-run juvenile detention facility in Maryland. According to reports and civil filings, Neverdon held positions of authority over vulnerable youth—many of whom were already navigating trauma, instability, or involvement in the juvenile justice system.
Andreozzi + Foote is representing at least one survivor and believes there may be many more.
Expanding Criminal Charges and Scope of Abuse
What began as a criminal investigation in 2024 has rapidly expanded.
- Neverdon now faces over 100 charges, including child sexual abuse and related offenses involving at least 11 identified victims
- Earlier reporting and lawsuits suggest dozens more survivors, with some filings alleging abuse of at least 69 boys
Prosecutors allege the abuse occurred over multiple decades, from approximately 1968 through 1991.
This is not a short-term failure. This is a system that allowed harm to continue for a generation.
Patterns of Abuse: Power, Access, and Isolation
According to court documents and survivor accounts, the alleged abuse followed deeply familiar and deeply disturbing patterns:
- Abuse occurring throughout the facility, including offices, bathrooms, and dormitory rooms
- Exploitation of authority to coerce, manipulate, or silence victims
- Allegations that victims were even taken outside the facility to be abused
These are not isolated incidents. These are patterns.
Patterns that only happen when systems fail to supervise, intervene, or believe children.
Institutional Failure: Where Was the Oversight?
The Charles H. Hickey Jr. School was operated by Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services—a system entrusted with the care of vulnerable youth.
And yet:
- Survivors allege abuse spanning decades
- Multiple victims report similar experiences
- Lawsuits claim the state “looked the other way” as abuse continued
This raises urgent questions:
- How did this go undetected—or ignored—for so long?
- What complaints, if any, were made during that time?
- Who else knew?
Because cases like this are never just about one perpetrator.
They are about systems that failed to protect.
Why Survivors Are Coming Forward Now
For many survivors, coming forward takes years, sometimes decades.
In this case, the Maryland Child Victims Act has opened a pathway for survivors to finally pursue justice, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.
And what we’re seeing now is what happens when legal barriers fall:
Survivors speak.
Patterns emerge.
Truth surfaces.
The Lasting Impact of Institutional Abuse
Survivors of child sexual abuse, especially in institutional settings, often carry the trauma for a lifetime.
When that abuse occurs in a place meant for rehabilitation and protection, the harm is compounded by:
- Betrayal of trust
- Loss of safety in already vulnerable environments
- Long-term psychological and emotional consequences
This is why civil litigation matters.
Not just for compensation but for acknowledgment, accountability, and change.
Civil Lawsuits as a Path to Accountability
Civil lawsuits do something the criminal system often cannot:
They expose the full scope of abuse.
Uncover institutional knowledge.
Force systems to answer for their failures.
And for survivors, they can offer:
- Validation
- Voice
- A pathway toward healing
Too often, survivors are asked why they come forward.
The better question is:
Why were they not protected in the first place?
Speaking With a Sexual Abuse Lawyer About Your Rights
If you or someone you love experienced sexual harassment, abuse, or exploitation by Ronald Neverdon, you may have a civil case.
Andreozzi + Foote is a civil law firm dedicated to representing survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation in Maryland and nationwide.
We offer free, confidential consultations to help survivors learn about their rights. This helps them understand their potential legal options and decide what feels right for them.
You deserve to be heard, and our attorneys are ready to listen.
Contact us today.
(866) 858-3790
info@vca.law
