CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — A teacher at Deep Creek Middle School in Chesapeake has been arrested for the possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), according to police.
Police say a criminal investigation led to the arrest of 25-year-old Jordan Palomares on Tuesday. He has been charged with four charges of possessing CSAM.
The school division has placed Palomares on administrative leave while the investigation is underway.
In a statement, Deep Creek Middle School Principal, John Cavanaugh told families there is no indication that any of the alleged abuse involved students or took place on school grounds.
Here is the full statement sent to Deep Creek Middle School families Wednesday morning:
Dear Families,
I want to inform you that Chesapeake Public Schools is aware of the recent arrest of one of our teachers. This employee has been placed on administrative leave while the matter is under investigation.
Based on the information we have at this time, there is no indication that these allegations involved any students or took place on school grounds. The safety and well-being of our students remains our top priority, and we are working closely with law enforcement during their investigation. Due to the ongoing nature of the situation, there are limited details we can share at this time, and we appreciate your understanding as we navigate this sensitive issue.
John Cavanaugh
Principal
Deep Creek Middle School
The school’s superintendent, Dr. Jared A. Cotton, also released a statement on the incident Thursday morning, attempting to provide some clarification to families. The statement can be read in full below:
There has been some discussion in the media about an employee at Deep Creek Middle School who has been arrested for possession of child pornography. I want to provide some clarification about the recent timeline of events to ensure you have accurate information. On the afternoon of October 1, 2024, Chesapeake Public Schools (CPS) was notified of the charges and arrest resulting from the execution of a search warrant that morning. Upon receiving this information, the teacher was immediately placed on administrative leave. The October 1, 2024, notification was the first time law enforcement communicated with the school system about this matter. As part of our commitment to student safety, all CPS employees undergo comprehensive evaluation prior to employment. This includes fingerprinting through the Virginia State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), as well as the Virginia Department of Social Services Central Registry background check for school personnel. This matter is part of an ongoing police investigation, and CPS is fully cooperating with law enforcement. While we understand that this news is unsettling, please be assured that the safety and well-being of our students are our top priorities. We appreciate your understanding and continued support.
Dr. Jared A. Cotton
This is a developing story and we are working to gather more details about this incident.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Chesapeake Police investigations Unit at 757-382-6251 to speak with a detective or call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at p3tips.com.