St. Mary Magdalen School teacher sent 'sexually explicit' photos to student: Police
A former eighth grade teacher at St. Mary Magdalen School in Talleyville has been charged with several felonies and a misdemeanor for sending "sexually explicit" photos to at least one student, police said.
The New Castle County police investigation began this month after police were contacted about 24-year-old Alanis Pinion. Detectives were told that she had "frequently communicated with her students via Snapchat and had sent sexually explicit photographs to one of them."
That student was 14, police said.
A news release said police contacted the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington after learning of the allegations. The diocese "fully cooperated with the investigation," police said.
A profile page on St. Mary Magdalen School's website has since been removed, though an archived page shows Pinion taught Spanish. In a letter to St. Mary Magdalen parishioners, staff and school parents, the Rev. James Kirk said Pinon was a contract employee.
He called her a "former" teacher. Court documents show she worked for the school at least through mid-June.
Pinion was arrested Thursday and charged with felony sexual solicitation of a child under 18, felony endangering the welfare of a child and misdemeanor indecent exposure. She's being held on $46,000 cash bail.
Police recently charged another school employee
This week's arrest of a teacher comes on the heels of the July 11 arrest by New Castle County police of a Brandywine School District elementary school therapist, who was charged with raping a 5-year-old girl. The child was not a student of 47-year-old John Arnold, police said.
Following the arrest, Delaware Online/The News Journal reporting revealed that Arnold had previously been accused of sexual misconduct by at least one other juvenile and an adult. While there were no criminal charges filed in those cases, a lawsuit alleging sexual battery and professional misconduct by a former client was filed in May 2021.
READ: Del. school employee charged with rape faced other sexual misconduct claims: court records
Arnold was hired in 2021, though the district has not responded to a reporter's inquiries as to when exactly he began that year. He also faced many other charges dating back more than two decades, including both felony and misdemeanor charges.
A criminal background check − required by state law for potential school employees − would have revealed the charges, many of which were later dropped. Brandywine did not respond to Delaware Online/The News Journal's questions regarding its hiring process, specifically regarding background checks.
Potential for more victims of Alanis Pinion
New Castle County police said Friday that detectives are "concerned" there may be additional victims in Pinion's case who haven't yet come forward.
Police ask anyone with information to contact Detective Daniel Watson at (302) 395-8030 or by email at daniel.watson@newcastlede.gov.
Got a story tip or idea? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com. For all things breaking news, follow her on X at @izzihughes_
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware teacher sent 'sexually explicit' photos to student: Police
