Bellingham Teacher Arrested On Child Pornography Charges

BELLINGHAM, MA — A Bellingham teacher is facing child pornography charges, reports say, after allegedly attempting to film a student go to the bathroom at Bellingham Memorial Middle School. Scott McDonald, 38, faces one count each of photographing sexual or intimate parts of a child and photographing a child in a sexual act, pose or exhibit, WCVB reported.

An NBC Boston article reports McDonald, also a baseball coach, is believed to have told a 14-year-old boy to use the coach's bathroom on Nov. 9. The boy said he noticed a cellphone on a locker which looked out of place.

He reported the incident to the school resource officer and McDonald's phone was confiscated.

The same day, the school district learned of the student's complaint and put McDonald on leave, NBC Boston reported Superintendent Peter Marano as saying.

See more on Patch: Teacher On Leave For Allegedly Recording Student In Bathroom

"As an educator and a parent I am absolutely appalled anytime a teacher violates the awesome trust and responsibility given to teachers by the parents of the children placed in our care on a daily basis," the superintendent wrote in a letter to parents, reports say. "We will not tolerate any behavior by any member of the staff or faculty of our school district that violates that trust."

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As of Nov. 23, McDonald is not on the school's faculty list online.

"This individual was immediately removed from the classroom when the district learned of the alleged conduct and we immediately contacted the police," Marano said in a statement. "We continue to remain committed to our efforts to ensure a safe learning environment for all students. Student safety is our highest priority.

McDonald was released on $1,000 bail, but with some restrictions. He's not allowed to have anything with a camera, can't use the internet, can't contact anybody under 18, can't contact witnesses and must live with his parents.

He's scheduled in court for his arraignment on Nov. 26, a MassLive report says.

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