Child Porn Charges Filed Against HCPS Elementary Music Teacher: Harford County Sheriff

BEL AIR, MD — A 27-year-old man who taught elementary school music for Harford County Public Schools has been arrested and charged with 11 counts of possession and distribution of child pornography, police say.

Earlier this year, detectives with the Harford County Child Advocacy Center received a tip regarding suspicious internet activity, specifically the downloading of multiple sexually explicit images of children that appeared to be between one and 13 years of age. Detectives investigating the tip identified the suspect as Dominic J. Lafrancesca and developed additional probable cause to issue search and seizure warrants, the Harford County Sheriff's Office stated.

Harford County Public Schools confirmed that LaFrancesca has been teaching at George D. Lisby Elementary School since 2022. Before then, he was a substitute teacher from 2020 to 2022 at William S. James Elementary, Dublin Elementary, Magnolia Elementary, Bakerfield Elementary, and Fallston High schools. LaFrancesca has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately.

On Aug. 18, detectives served the court ordered search warrants and Lafrancesca was taken into custody at his home without incident and taken to the Harford County Detention Center. Information gathered during the investigation indicates Lafrancesca admitted to routinely downloading photos of children that, under Maryland law, are considered child pornography. In addition to the downloading and possession of the photos, Lafrancesca also admitted to sharing the photos online with other adults, the sheriff's office said.

After a bail hearing Aug. 19, Lafrancesca was ordered to be held without bail at the Harford County Detention Center.

"We hold our staff to the highest standards and expectations. The accusation that a staff member has violated these standards is devastating. We want to assure our community that we will continue to fully support the Harford County Sheriff's Office and the Child Advocacy Center in their investigation. We are committed to maintaining transparency and keeping all families informed during this difficult time," the school district stated on its website. "The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. If you have any information related to this case, please contact the Harford County Sheriff's Office as soon as possible."

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office asks that anyone who believes they may have been a victim of these or related crimes, who may have information about victims, or who has relevant information about potentially inappropriate actions by Lafrancesca, to contact Detective Reynolds at the Harford County Child Advocacy Center at 443-409-3502.