NEW KENT, Va. (WVEC) — A grand jury indicted a former teacher and coach on charges involving crimes against a child.
New Kent County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested Matthew Spencer Duckworth on November 26.
The grand jury indicted Duckworth on November 19 on five counts of using communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children. Deputies said the crimes were against a single child.
Duckworth, 40, was a teacher and coach at New Kent High School at the times the incidents are supposed to have taken place. He no longer works for the New Kent County School System.
Parents in New Kent County say they are uneasy. Wanda Hackett said Duckworth was her son's Earth Science teacher just two years ago.
“It's scary,” Hackett said. “My son didn't believe it, he said he was a great teacher and always pushed him to do better.”
Duckworth allegedly sent the pictures through several social media apps, including Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram.
Court documents say a 16-year-old girl told investigators her teacher started sending the pictures back in August. He also offered the teenager crushed up Xanex pills at one point. The young girl went on to say in September, Duckworth hugged her in school without her consent.
The sheriff says the investigation started about two months ago. He described the investigation as extremely disturbing.
The sheriff said they're also anticipating more people coming forward and reporting inappropriate contact or uncomfortable situations with Duckworth.
In a bond hearing on Monday, the judge granted Duckworth a $25,000 secured bond.
The former teacher and coach is not allowed to have contact with the victim or anyone else younger than 18. Duckworth is also not allowed to use electronic devices for communication.
Duckworth is supposed to have a "status check" on January 7.
► Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13News Now App.