A Louisiana teacher accused of sexting two teenage students was framed, officials shockingly announced Monday.
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office said it opened an investigation into an unidentified male teacher at Central Lafourche High School in December after residents alleged he sent inappropriate messages to a 16-year-old female student. reports the Times-Picayune.
Detectives soon discovered that she and a 15-year-old friend, who also claimed to have received the inappropriate message, were talking about them online.
The initial investigation revealed the messages, which pointed to the teacher’s guilt. according to WBRZ.
But over the next two weeks, officers interviewed everyone allegedly involved and obtained search warrants for the teen’s cellphones and texting platform account information.
They then determined that the teens had fabricated the messages and the teacher’s profile on the online messaging app to make it appear as if he was conducting the conversations.
The girls then shared screenshots with friends in an attempt to trap the teacher, the sheriff’s office claims.
Detectives have now concluded that the teacher had not sent any message to the girls and was in fact the victim of a crime himself.
A Central Lafourche High School teacher (pictured) accused of sexting two teenage students was framed by them, officials announced
Sheriff Craig Webre and Lafourche Parish School District Superintendent Jarod Martin spoke out against the plan, with the latter saying district officials were “shocked and appalled to learn of the allegations.”
One of the students even allegedly admitted to his involvement in the scheme, deputies said.
Both girls, who have not been identified because they are minors, were charged Monday with each count of swearing with intent to harm public health, cyberstalking and online impersonation.
They have since been released into the custody of their parents and placed under electronic monitoring.
‘Our youth detectives are diligent and take complaints about inappropriate behavior very seriously. However, they are just as serious when it comes to false claims,” said Sheriff Craig Webre.
‘A person’s life can be destroyed in an instant by a false accusation and I am proud that our investigators were able to get to the bottom of this.
“Technology has made it very easy for people to try to manipulate the truth, but technology also makes it easy for researchers to ultimately find the truth,” he added.
Jarod Martin, superintendent of the Lafourche Parish School District, also said he and other school officials were “shocked and appalled to learn of the allegations made by two of our students.
“The allegations against one of our teachers were false and malicious, and we appreciate the efficiency of investigators in identifying the source of these messages,” he said.
“Such attacks on the credibility and reputation of teachers are concerning and could hinder their ability to teach children effectively.”
Martin added that the district is “committed to investigating all allegations of misconduct to provide a safe environment conducive to learning and work for all of our students and staff.”