"Somerville officials outraged at child pornography charges" by Peter Schworm | Globe Staff April 18, 2014
SOMERVILLE — City officials expressed shock and outrage Friday at child pornography allegations against a former Somerville grade-school teacher, and urged any parents with concerns to contact authorities.
A day after Josh Wairi, a fifth-grade teacher in Cambridge, was charged by federal authorities with sharing child pornography and secretly videotaping children undressing, Somerville officials said the accusations were “beyond comprehension,” and that counselors would be on hand to help students and parents.
“Allegations like this strike fear and doubt into your hearts,” Mayor Joseph Curtatone said at a morning press conference. “We have so many questions. We want to know our children are safe.”
Then home school. Keep 'em out of the perverts clutches.
Related: Cambridge teacher faces child pornography charges
Also see: Sweeping Up the Somerville Soccer Rape Case
I thought I would give you the chance to kick that around.
Wairi, 27, taught in the Somerville public schools for several years before working in Cambridge.
According to federal investigators, Wairi uploaded images and videos of children being sexually exploited to share with others, and told authorities he possessed hundreds of pornographic images.
He also admitted to videotaping children changing clothes “on more than one occasion,” both with a cellphone and a hidden video camera, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case. He used the video camera in a locker room, authorities said.
Investigators did not specify where the alleged videotaping occurred, and Somerville officials said they had “no concrete information” about the locations.
“This is an active investigation,” said Somerville’s police chief, Charles Femino. “We have limited information at this time.”
Additional officers will be available to field calls from concerned parents, he said.
Tony Pierantozzi, the superintendent of the Somerville schools, said Wairi worked as a substitute teacher from 2005-2009, then became a student-teacher during the 2008-2009 school year.
He then taught fifth- and sixth-grade at the Arthur D. Healey School from 2009-2012.
“There were absolutely no reasons to indicate there was a concern,” he said.
Wairi grew up in Somerville and graduated from Somerville High School, he said.
Oh, he was a graduate of the system?
Law enforcement officials began investigating Wairi in July 2013 after receiving a report of suspected child pornography from America Online (AOL).
Officials then linked his e-mail address to his computer’s IP address.
The only porn I dabble in is the propaganda piece to my left on the desk. It's more than enough.
On Thursday, authorities searched Wairi’s Somerville apartment and found cameras, several computers, and “many photographs of children.”
There was also a Disney-themed shower curtain in the bathroom, the complaint stated....
He also tried to get work as a baby-sitter!
--more--"
Also see: Cambridge parents seek answers after teacher’s arrest
I hope you can find some because I quit asking questions on this one.
UPDATE:
"A former Somerville and Cambridge Public Schools teacher could face up to 20 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after he was convicted on child pornography charges, according to US Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz’s office. Josh Wairi, 28, of Somerville, was convicted of possession of child pornography and transportation of child pornography after a five-day trial in US District Court. The fifth- and sixth-grade teacher was acquitted on three counts of production and attempted production of child pornography, Ortiz’s office said. Wairi used his e-mail to send and receive images and videos of child pornography, prosecutors said. He is scheduled for sentencing on July 29."
