Former Newton Swim Coach Arrested In Connection To Nude Photos

NEWTON, MA — A former Newton North High School swim coach who has worked in Newton, Belmont and most recently the Cape, was released on $1,000 bail after he was arrested and accused of taking inappropriate photographs of teenage girls, according to police.

It's not clear if the children depicted in the photos are students or athletes.

James Saidnawey, 29, of Harwich, was charged last week with two counts of posing or exhibiting a child in a state of nudity or sexual contact, Eastham Police Department officials said in a statement. They also said additional charges may be filed.

Saidnawey, who is now on leave, was hired this summer as a 4th grade teacher at Eastham Elementary School in Nauset Regional School District. Before he was hired there, he worked as a 5th grade teacher in Newton and coached the Newton North High School girls swim team for a season.

He was the head coach of the boys’ team at Belmont High before that.

Police said they seized several electronic devices in Saidnawey’s home and interviewed potential victims before making the arrest.

"We did not know about the investigation nor did anyone reach out to us before his arrest," Newton Superintendent David Fleishman told Patch.

Saidnawey was arraigned on Sept. 23 in Orleans District Court and was released on $1,000 bail. He is set to return to court on Nov. 23 for a pretrial hearing.

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