A judge has denied a request by Joseph Samuel Ellis, the former Glenelg High School teacher convicted in January of sexually abusing a student, to have his sentence reviewed and possibly modified.

In a motion filed with the Howard County Circuit Court on July 24, Ellis' attorney, Andrew Levy, requested that the court hold a hearing one year after Ellis' conviction to allow Ellis "to make a showing as to his rehabilitation and why and how his sentence should be modified."

According to the motion, Ellis is currently in group therapy and tutors his fellow inmates who are working toward their GEDs.

Howard County Circuit Court Judge Richard Bernhardt denied Ellis' request Aug. 4.

On Jan. 9, a Howard County jury found Ellis, 27, of Elkridge, guilty of sexual abuse of a minor, indecent exposure and telephone misuse.

Ellis recently filed an appeal with the Court of Special Appeals to rescind the verdict. Hearing dates have not yet been set for the appeal.

During a three-day trial, one of Ellis' former students testified that Ellis e-mailed her nude photographs, then later exposed himself to her during an after-school visit in his classroom in December 2006.

The former student, now 18, was 17 and a senior at Glenelg at the time of the incidents.

Prior to his trial, Ellis pleaded guilty to sending the girl nude photos.

Ellis is currently serving five years in prison. After his release, Ellis will be required to serve five years of probation and complete sexual offender treatment. Ellis is also prohibited from holding a position as a teacher or coach upon his release and will be required to register as a sex offender.

Ellis was a social studies teacher and coach at Glenelg High before he was fired by the Board of Education in April 2007.

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