By Stephanie Samuel

Sentinel Staff Writer

After striking a plea agreement with prosecutors, Metro bus driver and former Bowie High School football coach Aaron Burroughs was sentenced to 16 years in prison Monday for engaging in a sexual relationship with a minor and turning her to prostitution.

Burroughs was sentenced on three counts of sexual offense, one count of coersion and one count of sexual trafficking of a minor.

Burroughs was arrested August 2006 after a 15-year-old female, found performing a sex act with a man in Takoma Park earlier that night, named him as her pimp. While in custody, Burroughs admitted to Washington, D.C. police he had engaged in sex with her on two occasions and had brought the girl into D.C. on several occasions to work as a prostitute on the Rhode Island Avenue "track," where prostitution is commonplace. Burroughs confessed to taking her to Maryland and Virginia to perform "out calls." One such out call was to childhood friend and former U.S. Capital Police Sgt. Michael Malloy in Charles County. During that encounter, Burroughs videotaped the girl having both oral and vaginal sex with himself and Malloy.

At the trial, those close to Burroughs testified that the whole thing was simply a mistake. Burroughs's father Aaron Burroughs, Sr. said of his son, "He made a bad choice but he is not a bad person."

Church member William Jones testified on Burroughs's behalf, saying that Burroughs was a giving person who had volunteered at a Boys and Girls Club and with Bowie HS's football program, and was not a predator.

"That's not the Aaron I know," said. "That's out of character for him."

However, prosecutor Kim Herd said Burroughs's behavior was more than a one-time mistake. She recalled their activities and said, "This was a prolonged relationship."

She also recalled that Burroughs met the victim as an assistant coach at Bowie HS in 2005 and that he had confessed to smoking marijuana with football players while a volunteer coach.

"I think he wanted to be a good role model, but I think he also wants to relive his teenage years." Herd said.

Burroughs testified on his behalf. "I'm not a bad guy," he said. "I made some bad decisions. I made some really bad decisions." He apologized to the victim and her family, even though none of them were present in the courthouse, and his family. He choked back tears as he asked the judge for leniency so he could return to his estranged wife and 8-year-old daughter.

Herd acknowledged that Burroughs had been cooperative and forthright and recommend that he be given a 15-year sentence with parole, four and half years off the mandatory minimum of 20 years. However, Judge Richard Leon said he did not agree with the recommendation, saying Burrough's offense was more heinous than Malloy's. Malloy was convicted in September 2007 and sentenced Jan. 9 to 15 years. Leon said Burrough's offense warranted a higher sentence than Malloy's.

"Deterrents are of paramount importance for this court," Leon said.

In addition to his sentence, Burroughs's name will be added to the Sex Offender Registry of any state he decides to reside. He will also be barred from visiting playgrounds and schools and volunteering with youths younger than 18 years old without parental knowledge.

Contact Stephanie Samuel at

ssamuel@thesentinel.com