SOUTHBRIDGE, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) – A former Southbridge English teacher is due in court after allegedly sending naked pictures to a high school student.
Joseph Zungia-Santos, 22, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with dissemination of obscene material to a minor.
Police say Zungia-Santos sent the 17-year-old student naked pictures of himself over Facebook Messenger in October of 2014 and in August of 2015. A school resource officer overheard students talking about it and alerted police, the Associated Press reports.
The two reportedly met at a church function in Webster last year.
"They had known each other for about two years. The students admitted that they met at a church function in the town of Webster and then he's been with this particular teacher for this whole year," Woodson said.
Zuniga-Santos, a 9th grade teacher, was put on paid leave and is expected to be arraigned on Thursday.
"The school department is extremely alarmed by these charges and has taken immediate steps to ensure the safety of our students. Effective today, this individual is no longer an employee with the district," Southbridge Public Schools said in a statement.
Parents are stunned, one saying, "I think it's horrible. You don't do that kind of stuff and be around children."
A community meeting is being held next Tuesday for parents. Zuniga-Santos is set to be arraigned Thursday morning in Dudley District Court.
Zuniga-Santos is the second teacher in the district to be arrested this year, the Associated Press reports. In June, a middle school math teacher was arrested on charges that he tried to buy child pornography from the Philippines online.
Cox Media Group
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