Xaverian Brother Philip Michael Spoelker, 64, was arrested Thursday in Florida by St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigations detectives.
Brother Spoelker, biology teacher at the college, and a former teacher at Ryken High School in Leonardtown, was charged with one count of Child Abuse and one count of fourth-degree Sex Offense.
BCI Commander Lt. Rick Burris said a five-month investigation by detectives determined that Spoelker coaxed a ninth-grade student, a 15 year old male, into a storage room and fondled the child, while he was a biology teacher at Ryken High School in 1978.
Spoelker is currently incarcerated at the Sarasota County Detention Center awaiting extradition back to St. Mary’s County.
BCI detectives traveled to Venice, Fla. and apprehended Spoelker with the assistance of the Venice Police Department.
A press conference is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.