STATE POLICE ARREST TEACHER FOR SOLICITATION OF A MINOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 20, 2009

STATE POLICE ARREST TEACHER FOR SOLICITATION OF A MINOR

(Bel Air, MD) The Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit arrested a Harford County middle school physical education teacher today for allegedly sexually soliciting a fifteen year old boy from Prince George�s County. The accused is identified as Jonathan S. Dick, 43, of the 1300-block of Sheridan Place in Bel Air. He is charged with two counts of solicitation of a minor. If convicted, Dick could be sentenced up to ten years and/or a $25,000 fine per count. The Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Section began this investigation in February after receiving a complaint from the victim�s parents when they located disturbing sexual text messages between the juvenile victim and Dick. Investigators obtained the juvenile�s cellular phone and laptop computer and were able to recover the Internet chats. The solicitation occurred over a period of several weeks, after the juvenile and Dick began communicating on a social networking website. Investigators were able to trace the account information back to Dick. Police learned that Dick is employed as a physical education teacher at Fallston Middle School in Harford County. He also serves as a boys lacrosse coach at Fallston High School. Police executed a search warrant at Dick�s Bel Air residence early this morning, seizing a desktop computer, a laptop computer, and several printed documents and pictures relevant to the investigation. The seized computers will be sent to the State Police Computer Forensics Laboratory for examination. Dick was arrested at the Harford County Administrative Offices at noon today. He was then processed at the Bel Air barrack and transported to the Harford County Detention Center. A bond hearing before a court commissioner will occur later today. Because this investigation involves a teacher, the State Police coordinated efforts with the Harford County Child Advocacy Center, the Harford County State�s Attorney Office, and the Harford County Public Schools administration. This case continues to be investigated by the State Police and the Harford County Child Advocacy Center. Anyone with any information concerning this case is urged to contact the Center at 410-638-3294. The Computer Crimes Unit�s primary mission is to protect children from computer-facilitated sexual exploitation. The unit works cooperatively with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to provide resources to combat these crimes. The unit is also charged with helping to prevent the spread of these crimes through education and community awareness.

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Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ SDOSM 20090320