MANCHESTER, N.H. (
MyFoxBoston.com) -- A teacher was arrested after a police investigation revealed that he was allegedly posing as a young girl online to solicit inappropriate photos from another preteen girl who attends a Manchester elementary school.
Police arrested Paul Johnson-Yarosevich Monday morning during a meeting with the superintendent at district headquarters.
"We've already met this afternoon with teachers and employees letting them know about the investigation," said Manchester superintendent Dr. Debra Livingston. "We don't condone behavior like this."
Dr. Livingston said she first learned of the police investigation on Friday, April 3 - the same day police executed a search warrant at Johnson's home in Acton, Maine.
Police first began an investigation last December after a local father filed a report stating his preteen daughter had been communicating with a new friend on Facebook.
"Johnson pretended he was someone of similar age and gender as his victim," Manchester Police Lt. Bill O'Keefe said.
Investigators said Johnson then built on the relationship with the girl and asked her to send him nude pictures of herself.
"It was enough that alarmed the girl that she felt that what she did was inappropriate," Lt. O'Keefe said.
Johnson has worked for Manchester Schools since 2005, with the majority of his career as the physical education teacher at Parker Varney Elementary School.
On Monday, the district sent home a letter to parents informing them of the investigation and noting Johnson was on unpaid administrative leave until the police investigation was complete.
Officials said the situation serves as an important reminder for parents to discuss internet safety with their children.
"I think the biggest thing for parents is, they have to know who their kids are talking to. Just because somebody states they may be somebody, the reality is, they could be somebody entirely different," Lt. O'Keefe said.
