Federal prosecutors have charged a Montgomery County elementary school teacher, alleging he used Snapchat to pose as a child and persuade young girls to create and send sexually explicit images and videos of themselves.
Federal prosecutors charged Eric Sanville, of Norwood, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, Aug. 27. Sanville is a teacher at Gwynedd Square Elementary School, the North Penn School District confirmed to NBC10.
Beginning in July, Snapchat reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that two accounts appeared to "target minor girls to have them manufacture and distribute sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves," according to court documents.
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FBI investigators determined the two accounts used an IP address assigned to Sanville, the documents said.
In one conversation with an 8-year-old girl, Sanville allegedly shared explicit images and directed the child on "how to pose," court records said.
The FBI executed a search warrant at Sanville's home Thursday.
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"Sanville admitted that he created and used both Snapchat accounts ... to chat with minor girls," the documents said. "Using these accounts, he had the girls take nude pictures and videos of themselves to send to him. He told the minors that he was also a minor and used a picture of a teenage boy with blonde hair he found on Facebook."
Police do not believe the children involved attended schools in the district or live in the region, North Penn School District Superintendent Todd Bauer said in a statement.
"Law enforcement authorities have shared with the district that, based on the information currently available to them, there is no evidence to suggest that any North Penn School District students or other children in the surrounding area were involved," Bauer said. "Authorities have also indicated that they do not believe North Penn School District technology was used in connection with the alleged activity."
Sanville was charged with manufacture and attempted manufacture of child pornography.
An attorney for Sanville was not listed in court records as of Thursday. The district placed Sanville on leave and ordered him off school property and to have no contact with students.
Read the full message to parents from the superintendent:
"Good afternoon, Gwynedd Square Parents and Guardians,As you are likely aware, a Gwynedd Square Elementary School teacher was taken into custody at his home today and charged by federal authorities with offenses related to the production of child pornography. The teacher involved was Mr. Eric Sanville.Law enforcement authorities have shared with the district that, based on the information currently available to them, there is no evidence to suggest that any North Penn School District students or other children in the surrounding area were involved. Authorities have also indicated that they do not believe North Penn School District technology was used in connection with the alleged activity.We recognize that this news is deeply concerning for our entire community and may be particularly upsetting for families whose children had direct contact with this staff member. We encourage you to speak with your child in a manner you feel is appropriate and to listen carefully if they have any questions or concerns.If you or your child have information that you believe may be relevant to this matter, or if your child shares something with you that causes concern, the FBI has asked that you please contact our Coordinator of Emergency Management and Safe Schools, Brandon Rhone, at 215-853-1037 or [email protected] and Mr. Rhone will put you in touch with the investigating agent.As previously communicated, the employee was immediately placed on leave, prohibited from being present on District property, and directed not to have any contact with students.North Penn School District is cooperating fully with law enforcement and will continue to review information provided to us. The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority.Because this is an active law enforcement matter, there are limits to what the district can share at this time.We understand that receiving a message like this about someone who may have worked directly with your child can be unsettling. If your child needs additional support as a result of this information, please contact your child's principal or school counselor so that we can assist your family.Todd M. BauerSuperintendentNorth Penn School District"