UPDATE: Agoura High Staff Member Considered Victim in Posting of Nude Photo

Agoura Hills Patch has learned that the female staff member whose alleged nude image has been posted via social media is considered a victim in the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Special Victims Unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

“We are investigating all aspects of this case, but we are not looking at [the staff member] as a suspect," said Det. Sgt. Dan Scott, who’s in charge of the case. “We do not believe she sent the photo to any student.”

Scott declined to comment on whether or not the image was fabricated or doctored using photo editing software.

After becoming aware of the situation, Las Virgenes Unified School District officials referred the matter to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which is currently investigating how the image got on the Internet.

Agoura Hills Patch became aware of the photo and the investigation on Thursday, April 12, when we received an anonyous email from unknown@gmail.com with the subject line "News Tip." It stated:

Apparently [a staff member] at Agoura HIlgh [sic] School ... is being investigated for sending a full frontal nude photo of herself to a student. This student has now shared the photo with many other Agoura HIgh [sic] students. 

This is only a private news tip to you. I do not have any direct knowledge that this is true but have heard from many teens and seen the photo myself from my daughter. 

Patch has not been able to confirm whether the image was sent to a student by the staff member. An attempt to reply to the sender of the email was returned as a nonexistent address.

Out of concern for the staff member's reputation, Patch chose not to publish a story about the matter until more could be learned from sheriff's investigators and school officials.

However, KTLA reported on the photo and the investigation Tuesday evening with interviews of students and LVUSD Deputy Superintendent Dan Stepenosky. The report shows the photo, with the teacher's face and body parts blurred.

Last week, Patch contacted the staff member via email and she responded as follows:

"I've been out of town this week and don't know the details of what I've been told is a fabricated photo of me.  However, I'm very disappointed that someone would attack my character in such a way and I don't want to give undue attention to such a malicous act.  I greatly appreciate the support of family, friends and colleagues. My primary focus is on attending to the educational needs of the students at Agoura High School by committing all of my efforts to their daily growth and development. Creating additional draw to this distressing situation will not further those goals."

Stepenosky told Patch last week that the teacher "has an impeccable employment record and her myriad of contributions to the District's students and our educational programs certainly earn our support and a willingness to calmly and honestly hear all the facts before we take action. 

"As an educator, I cannot lose the opportunity to stress that compromising a person's character, whether your own or someone else's, through online abuse and misuse is fast becoming a societal habit and trend. And, it is a trend that bothers me, as both a father and an educator. I am committed to help ensure that our students and employees understand and respect the importance of outstanding digital citizenship."

Patch will continue to update this story with further developments.

—Richard Core contributed to this story.