A Harford County teacher has been arrested and charged related to possessing and distributing child sexual abuse images. Dominic Lafrancesca has worked at George D. Lisby Elementary at Hillsdale, where he taught music, since 2022.

According to police, detectives with the Harford County Child Advocacy Center received a tip about suspicious internet activity related to the downloading of sexually explicit images of children who appeared to be between one and 13 years of age.

The detectives identified Lafrancesca, 27, of Bel Air, as the suspect. After securing a search and seizure warrant, police arrested Lafrancesca at his home on Sunday.

Police said Lafrancesca admitted to routinely downloading photos of children that are considered child sexual abuse material under Maryland law, and sharing those photos online with other adults.

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Lafrancesca is being held without bail at the Harford County Detention Center and is charged with 11 counts related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. He did not have an attorney listed in online court records as of Tuesday.

Detectives are working with the Sheriff’s Office Digital Forensics Unit to analyze multiple electronic devices seized during court-ordered searches.

Before working at George D. Lisby Elementary, Lafrancesca was a substitute teacher from 2020 to 2022 at William S. James Elementary, Dublin Elementary, Magnolia Elementary, Bakerfield Elementary and Fallston High schools, said Harford County Public Schools spokeswoman Jillian Lader in an email Tuesday. He has been placed on administrative leave, Lader said.

“We hold our staff to the highest standards and expectations. The accusation that a staff member has violated these standards is devastating,” Lader said in the email. “We want to assure our community that we will continue to fully support the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in their investigation.”

Anyone who has information about victims, or relevant information about inappropriate actions by Lafrancesca is asked to contact Detective Reynolds at the Harford County Child Advocacy Center at 443-409-3502.

WJZ is a media partner of The Baltimore Banner.