WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | Elementary School Teacher Arrested
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A St. Andrews Elementary School teacher is out on bond tonight, charged with trying to access pornography and engage in inappropriate conversations with a child through the Internet.
Several law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and the Pooler Police Department searched the home of Joshua Evans in Pooler looking for evidence. They say they found what they were looking for and arrested the 25-year-old teacher.
Today, in federal court Evans was arraigned and then released on a $50,000 bond, but must remain on house arrest and cannot have access to the Internet or any contact with minors.
Meanwhile across the county at St. Andrews school, administrators tell us they're in a state of shock. Headmaster EC Hubbard says all employees undergo a criminal background check and Evans had no prior history.
"It's only logical the people we employ for our children are the people of good character and in my opinion, Mr. Evans was. We did an extensive criminal checks references and I personally make those calls," said Hubbard.
Evans had been a music teacher at St. Andrews Elementary School for two years and the headmaster says in that period of time, none of the children were in danger. And after talking to the FBI, there's no evidence of inappropriate behavior conducted on school grounds. "While we can't understand, I believe that safe guards are sufficient that no sort of criminal conduct happened at school," said Hubbard.
Hubbard says he's concerned about the school's reputation and that's why he sent a letter to all parents explaining what happened. "Our foremost concern is for the safety and welfare of our children and we take steps to ensure that safety," said Hubbard. Steps he says his administrators always take very seriously.
At this point, none of the agencies involved in the Evans case are going into detail as to what led to his arrest.
We should learn more when Evans makes his next court appearance which has not yet been set.
Hubbard says Evans will not return to St. Andrews and the school is looking for a permanent replacement.
Reported by: Brooke Kelley, bkelley@wtoc.com
