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Rockville music teacher sexually assaulted students during private lessons, charging documents say

Sundas is already facing additional alleged sexual abuse charges for a case in Montgomery County.

HOWARD COUNTY, Md. — Less than a day after WUSA9 reported the arrest of a Rockville man in connection to the sexual abuse of a minor at a Soundcheck Rock Academy in Columbia, court documents show two more victims have also come forward. 

A statement from the Howard County Police Department identified the former instructor as 30-year-old Priyant Sundas of Grosvenor Place. On Thursday, police said Sundas sexually abused a minor "over a two-year period when she was 12 years old."

Investigators said the girl reported that the abuse took place during one-on-one lessons between 2018 and 2020 at Soundcheck Rock Academy, which used to be called Columbia Rock Academy. 

Soundcheck Rock Academy emailed WUSA9 a statement that said they are working with investigators and they noted that Sundas hasn't been an employee of the school since 2020.

"When we first learned of this investigation over the summer, we informed our client base to ensure that the parents of our students were fully aware," the statement says. "At that time, we were not aware of any abuse of any student at our facility."

Credit: Howard County Police Department
Priyant Sundas of Rockville, a former teacher at Soundcheck Rock Academy, faces charges for sexually assaulting a teenager between 2018 to 2020, police say.

The school said it learned of Sundras' arrest on Thursday and noted when he was an employee he was a part-time instructor. After he left in 2020, the school says it hasn't had any contact with him. 

"He had no prior criminal record before employment here, and we did not observe any behavior or incidents during his tenure that gave us an indication of criminal behavior," the statement says.

The school called the incident "heartbreaking" and said when Sundas was hired he did not have a criminal record. Leaders at the school thanked Howard County investigators for arresting Sundas "so that he cannot hurt other children in our community."

"We make every effort to create a safe, nurturing environment for our students, their families, our employees, and our community at large," the statement says. "Our first priority is always our students, and we are committed to fully cooperating with the investigation should we be asked."

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After an investigation, Sundas was arrested and is being held at the Howard County Detention Center without bond. 

Sundas is scheduled to appear for a pre-trial in April, court records show.

According to court documents, another victim says she was 7 years old when Sundas started abusing her in October 2021 during private music lessons at the Chevy Chase Arts Academy in Montgomery County. The victim told her parents of the abuse. 

Court documents show a second 7-year-old victim also told police that Sundras sexually assaulted her while he was a teacher at the Chevy Chase Arts Academy. The victim told her mother about the abuse in the parking lot of the music school the same day she was assaulted.

According to Montgomery County Police Department, Sundas tried to buy a plane ticket to flee the country after he was accused of the alleged sexual crimes.

Police obtained two warrants for the sexual abuse of two juvenile victims. On November 14, Sundas was arrested on the strength of the warrants by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the JFK International Airport as he attempted to board his flight.

MCPD said he was also previously a music teacher in Northern Virginia.

Howard County Police are concerned more children could have been victimized by Sundas and they urge anyone with information to call 410-313-STOP or email HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov.

Montgomery County Police are also concerned Sundas may have sexually assaulted other victims. They are asking anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Sundas to call the Special Victims Investigation Division at 240-773-5400. 

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