A former part-time teacher at St. Mary Magdalen School in Wilmington was arrested July 18 and charged with sending sexually explicit photographs to a 14-year-old former student.
Alanis Pinion, 24, was charged with sexual solicitation of a child under 18, endangering the welfare of a child and indecent exposure first degree, according to New Castle County Police.
Pinion was an eighth-grade teacher and had frequently communicated with her students via Snapchat and had sent sexually explicit photographs to one of them, police said. The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was informed and fully cooperated with the investigation, police said.
Father James T. Kirk Jr., pastor of St. Mary Magdalen parish, said in a letter to parents, staff and parishioners that Pinion was a part-timer contractor at the school and had successfully completed the required background check process prior to her employment.
“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,” said Father Kirk, adding that the school and parish supported police in their investigation. He said more information on the diocesan “For the Sake of God’s Children” program can be found at cdow.org/protecting-our-children. People with questions should call diocese Office of Safe Environments Coordinator Brian Moore at 302-295-0668, he said.
Pinion was arraigned and committed to the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution after failing to pay $46,000 bail, police said.
Police are asking anyone with any information about the investigation to contact Detective Daniel Watson at (302)395-8030 or by email at Daniel.Watson@newcastlede.gov.