Phoenix area, Washington Elementary School District officials sent a letter out to Arroyo Elementary School parents informing “of a situation that involves a teacher.” In the letter officials advised parents that on Friday evening, September 7, “we became aware that John Todorich, physical education teacher, was arrested for allegedly luring a minor by use of the Internet.
Todorich was indicted Monday on one count of molestation of a child and two counts of luring a minor for sexual exploitation.
The district reported to parents that they “had received information on Thursday, September 6 that he was being investigated. The teacher was placed on administrative leave early Friday morning, pending the investigation, and he was subsequently arrested at home on Friday. Mr. Todorich has been a teacher in our District since 2005. At the time he was hired and again in 2011, he received fingerprint and background clearance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety. WESD will cooperate fully with the investigation. This is a law enforcement issue and, more than likely, we will not be privy to the details. We must allow the investigators to do their jobs and allow due process to occur.”
A substitute teacher has been hired to cover Todorich’s classes.
The Phoenix Police Department has requested that parents contact them if they have any questions concerning the investigation.
The Arizona Republic reported that “Todorich created a Facebook profile portraying himself as a 16-year-old boy living in Phoenix and began having online conversations with a different boy under 15 years of age. After the boy told Todorich he was younger than 15, Todorich solicited him for sexual acts on May 25, 2011 and May 26, 2011. In May 2012, the boy’s mother found the conversations on her son’s Facebook page and called police. The boy and Todorich did not meet. “There was no actual sexual conduct that we’re aware of,” he said. “It was an attempt to lure the minor child, and those messages were found by the mother, so then we began an investigation.”
Todorich attempted to lure what he thought was another minor for sexual exploitation, but it was in reality, an investigator who created a Facebook page posing as a minor under 15.
Todorich is being held without bond because molestation of a child under 15 years old is “not bailable as a matter of right.” His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 31.