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.
This whole situation is so very sad. My middle school son liked and respected this teacher, who was very supportive after my son’s leg surgery. I don’t think Fallston administration did enough to address the fact that the loss of a favorite teacher is a major event in a child’s life and that the loss of trust is character -changing. What makes all of this so very difficult is that my high school daughter’s science teacher was arrested last month on similar charges. Again, nothing was said to the kids but that the teacher had a right to his privacy. Does this make sense?
Have to wonder if this is a trend lately. The CMW teacher last year (although a different situation), the science teacher you reference, the North Harford teacher, the long-time Bakerfield gym teacher…
your going to find child predators, where the children are. no better place then the school’s. the internet has allowed them to expand there web.and has all so become there down fall.
It makes you wonder if these teachers, that are supposed to teach right from wrong, will ever get a clue. its almost daily that I read news articals about teacher/student relations. They think they have the trust of a kid and wont get caught? Seriously, these jerks should be castrated once convicted! I moved to this county to get away from the crap, and now I have moved even closer to the crap. BRING BACK THE STOCKADE and Public stoning!
This teacher was doing this for years. I was of legal age when I had dated him but he was abusive to say the least. I was so glad to have ended it when I did after he threatened to punch me. He only got really angry if he drank alcohol. I know of a few others he was abusive to as well. Maybe jail will turn him around.