A North Central High School teacher faces a felony charge after investigators say he sent a pornographic photo to a 16-year-old girl on Skype.
Sameer G. Thakar, 39, faces one count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors.
Thakar is now defending himself for what federal cyber cops say happened two years ago. Fishers Police arrested the 39-year-old Tuesday for what they say he sent to a 16-year-old girl in Oregon.
Thakar is a first-year teacher at North Central High School, where the principal sent an electronic message informing parents about the arrest Wednesday.
In court documents, a Fishers Police officer wrote during questioning Thakar "admitted to me that he had a problem chatting online."
Police say while Skyping, the 16-year-old girl wrote the teacher, saying, "I wish I were 18."
Sameer replied, "LOL how long until 18?"
She answered, "1 year and a half."
Sameer replied "ok."
Court documents say about an hour later Thakar sent a nude photo of himself to the teenager. When questioned, Thakar told investigators he couldn't remember if he knew the girl was 16 before or after he sent the photo.
"I am very disappointed," said karate class instructor Sunjae Park.
Park has taught a lot of high school students self-defense. He also teaches them to report and never have personal contact of any kind with teachers.
"I teach my own students to make sure they don't do that and to make sure they communicate with their parents and teachers," said Park.
Before joining North Central, Thakar taught math at Anderson Prep Academy. For now, Thakar is out of work while under investigation.
Statement from Washington Township Schools:
"On the evening of February 9th, the MSD of Washington Township was informed that a teacher in his first year at North Central High School was arrested. That communication informed the district that Mr. Sameer Thakar was arrested because it was alleged that he sent illegal and clearly inappropriate material to a minor in Oregon.
The School District before sunrise on February 10th, directly reported the arrest to Child Protective Services in both Indiana and Oregon. The school district placed the teacher on administrative leave until further notice pending our own investigation and the teacher has been instructed not to appear on school property. Additionally, overnight the teacher’s access to district email and computer was terminated and the information on the computer was secured.
Immediately the next step of the school district was to notify the Fishers police department of the school district’s actions to secure the email and computer of this teacher.
At this time we have no information that any MSD Washington Township student has been involved with this investigation involving this teacher.
Washington Township is working in full cooperation with Fishers police department who was the arresting department. If the school district becomes aware of additional information we will communicate it promptly."
