A Virginia high school teacher was arrested in September in a sting operation to uncover a child sexual abuser, police said.
Kevin Lee Joyce, a 39-year-old teacher at Forest Park Academy in Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS), Arrested The man was charged Wednesday with attempting to meet with a girl believed to be under the age of 15, WDBJ reported.
According to the outlet, investigators from the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office launched an online undercover investigation targeting Joyce on September 10 because they “suspected” he was a “sexual predator.”
Because he worked with minors in public schools, law enforcement decided to detain him before he traveled to the alleged meeting.
The disgraced teacher reportedly subsequently admitted to the allegations during questioning by detectives.
Joyce was subsequently charged with five counts of using a communication system to facilitate certain crimes against a minor, according to the sheriff's office.
Police added that RCPS was cooperative in the investigation.
The school district released a statement to parents saying Joyce has been placed on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the investigation.
We are pleased to announce that the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office has arrested and charged a school employee with crimes against a minor.
Due to the police investigation, there is a limit to what we can say, however, we are committed to transparency and would like you to understand the following:
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School and district administrators are providing the sheriff's office and state attorneys with information they need to investigate.
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The employee has been placed on administrative leave.
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The employees' employment status will be determined pending the results of the investigation.
“Roanoke City Schools and Forest Park Academy take the safety and health of our students seriously and it is our number one priority. Prior to employment, all applicants are screened through a rigorous background check and screening process,” the district added. “Continued training and attention to the safety and health of our students is an ongoing focus for RCPS.”
“As educators, we are entrusted with the well-being of the children in our care every day, and we do not take this responsibility lightly,” school officials continued, urging any students in need of counseling to contact them.
The Allegheny County Sheriff's Office held a press conference to further publicize the teacher's arrest, celebrating that they were able to “arrest him before he arrived in Allegheny.”
