Alanis Pinion has been arrested on two felonies and one misdemeanor for sending "sexually explicit" photos to a 14-year-old student. Photo of Pinion provided by the New Castle County Police Department.

St. Mary Magdalen teacher arrested for sending sexual pics to 14-year-old

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Alanis Pinion has been arrested on two felonies and one misdemeanor for sending "sexually explicit" photos to a 14-year-old student. Photo of Pinion provided by the New Castle County Police Department.

Alanis Pinion has been arrested on two felonies and one misdemeanor for sending “sexually explicit” photos to a 14-year-old student. Photo of Pinion provided by the New Castle County Police Department.

A 24-year-old female educator who teaches eighth grade at a Wilmington private catholic school has been arrested for sending sexual photos to her 14-year-old student.

The New Castle County Police Department announced that Alanis Pinion, a now ex-teacher at St. Mary Magdalen School, “had frequently communicated with her students via Snapchat and had sent sexually explicit photographs to one of them.”

Upon learning of the allegation, the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was contacted, informed and fully cooperated with the investigation.

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“Earlier this week, the school was contacted by the New Castle County Police to notify us of an investigation and ultimately an arrest of a former part time contract employee regarding allegations of an exchange of inappropriate images electronically with a former student,” said Rev. James T. Kirk Jr. in a statement sent to all members of the school’s community.

The contractor had successfully completed the required background check process prior to her employment, Kirk pointed out, and the school, parish and the school’s Diocese officials supported the police as they conducted their investigation.

“Please be assured that all of us at Saint Mary Magdalen Parish and School, along with our partners at the Diocese of Wilmington, always keep the safety of our children and youth as a primary goal,” Kirk Jr. said. 

He also included a link for parents and to learn more information on the Diocese For the Sake of Gods Children Program, which can be found here

The website outlines training and other measures taken to protect children from sexual assault, as well as official third-party audits and reports about the implementation of the program. 

Pinion was taken into custody Thursday and transported to the New Castle County Police headquarters.

She was charged with one felony count of sexual solicitation of a child under 18, one felony count of endangering the welfare of a child and one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure first degree.

She was arraigned at the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution after failing to pay $46,000.00 cash bail.

In Kirk’s letter to families, he said if anyone has concerns regarding their child’s interactions with Pinion, they should contact New Castle County Police Detective Daniel Watson at (302) 395-8030. 

Any other questions, Kirk said, should be directed at the Diocese Office of Safe Environments Director Brian Moore at (302) 295-0668. 

“As always, I am also available if any of our parishioners or parents have a concern,” he said. 

Police say they are concerned that there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward. 

Detectives are asking anyone with any information about this investigation to contact Detective Daniel Watson at (302) 395-8030 or by email at [email protected].

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