NEEDHAM, Mass. — A teacher in Needham was arraigned on Friday following allegations of child porn.
47-year-old Michael Ciccolella of Ashland, a High Rock Middle School teacher, has been charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
He pleaded not guilty in Framingham District Court and was held on $500,000 bail and ordered to have no unsupervised contact with children under 18, not to use the internet and to submit to home confinement with a GPS monitoring device.
Ciccolella was arrested at his Spyglass Hill home around 8:45 p.m. on Thursday after a monthslong investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Police searched his residence and allegedly found multiple electronics containing child porn.
Prosecutors allege Ciccolella viewed and distributed sexually explicit content of juveniles ranging from ages 3 to 12 years old. Investigators say he used the online messaging apps Media Lab and Kik.
Superintendent Dan Gutekanst sent a letter home to parents on Friday confirming Ciccolella’s arrest, and maintains that no High Rock or Needham Public School students were involved or harmed in any way.
“The safety and wellbeing of our students is always the district’s top priority, and we will cooperate with all law enforcement agencies as the investigation continues,” the letter to parents read. “Due to the disturbing nature of the charges, we encourage families to speak with their children and reassure them that they are safe at school.”
Ciccolella has been employed in the Needham Public School system since 2008 and was immediately placed on administrative leave, according to Gutekanst.
Administrators will be offering counseling services to students and staff at home this weekend and into next week.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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