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Teacher at Cambridge private school facing child pornography charges
Music teacher Joshua DeWitte, 50, was arrested Thursday and arraigned on child porn charges.
A teacher at a private school in Cambridge was arrested Thursday on child pornography charges, Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan’s office announced.
Joshua DeWitte, 50, of Cambridge, was arraigned Thursday in Cambridge District Court on charges of distribution of obscene matter to a minor, possession of child pornography, and distributing material of a child in a sex act.
The charges were brought after DeWitte allegedly exchanged videos and photos with minors online, authorities said.
DeWitte worked as a music teacher at Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, a private facility serving pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade students. He previously worked in the Cambridge public schools system for 13 years, according to a Boston Globe report.
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Last month, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program notified authorities of suspicious activity on DeWitte’s Snapchat account, which he allegedly used to have sexual conversations with “multiple male children under the age of 18,” according to Ryan’s office.
Cambridge police are working to identify potential victims in the case but said there’s no indication any of the victims are Buckingham Browne & Nichols School or CPS students.
Jen Price, head of school at Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, told the Globe that DeWitte has been placed on leave.
“He joined us at the start of this school year after having successfully completed all criminal background checks,” Price said in a statement. “Reference checks with three previous employers also indicated no concerns. We will continue to keep our families apprised of any details we learn and to cooperate fully with the appropriate agencies in their investigation of this matter.”
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The school will hold an open forum with parents next week to address their concerns.
Dewitte’s bail was set at $8,000 and he was ordered to surrender his passport, stay away from victims, witnesses, and the school, and not work with children under 18, Ryan’s office said.
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