A Catholic school teacher in Delaware sent sexually explicit videos and photos of himself to a 14-year-old student, New Castle County police confirmed to The Blaze-News on Wednesday.
Detectives discovered that Alanis Pinion, 24, an eighth-grade teacher at St. Mary Magdalene School in Wilmington, was frequently communicating with students on Snapchat and sending sexually explicit photos to one of them, police said. news releaseThe Blaze News confirmed to police that “erotic” videos were also sent to students.
When the girl asked Pinion why he had sent her the video, she replied, “Because I’m bored,” the newspaper reported.
Police said Pinion was taken into custody Thursday and charged with one felony count of sexual solicitation of a child under 18, one felony count of endangering the welfare of a child and one misdemeanor count of first-degree lewd conduct. Police added that Pinion was taken to Baylor Correctional Facility for Women after failing to post $46,000 bail.
of News Journal Detectives began their investigation on July 12 after being contacted about the video sent two days earlier via Snapchat, the paper said. Citing an arrest warrant, the paper reported that Pinion, a Spanish teacher, had been in contact with the boy for several weeks, and that the “erotic” video was finally sent to him on July 10.
The News Journal reported, citing court documents, that Pinion sent 10 to 15 videos over the course of 30 to 45 minutes that night. When the boy asked Pinion why she was sending the videos, she reportedly replied, “Because I’m bored.” The boy added to police that Pinion also told him, “I’ll always be your favorite teacher,” the News Journal reported.
The boy recorded the Snapchat video on his phone while playing it on an iPad, the paper said. The victim’s parents told him to delete the video and block Pinion, the paper said.
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By the time police got involved, two days later, most of the videos had been deleted, but one was recovered on the girl’s iCloud account. Detectives then searched Pinion’s home and found clothing similar to the one she was wearing in the video, as well as bedroom furniture that matched the footage.
A search of her phone revealed she had since deleted the Snapchat, but notifications on her phone indicated she had received messages from the boy on the app around the time she sent the video. Investigators also observed her phone camera being used during the same time period, according to the search warrant.
Police said they contacted the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, which provided information and cooperated fully with the investigation.
According to the News Journal, Father James T. Kirk Jr., pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Parish, sent a letter to parents, staff and parishioners about the allegations against Mr. Pinion. Father Kirk described Mr. Pinion as a “former” part-time contract employee.
“The contractor had successfully completed the required background check procedures prior to employment.” I have written “Please be assured that all of us at St. Magdalen Church and School, and our partners in the Diocese of Wilmington, will always have the safety of children and young people as our number one goal,” Father Kirk said.
Police added they are “concerned” there may be other victims who have not yet come forward and are urging anyone with information about the case to contact Detective Daniel Watson at 302-395-8030 or email Daniel.Watson@newcastlede.gov.
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