COUNCIL BLUFFS — A Lewis Central High School teacher has resigned and two arrest warrants have been issued after accusations of inappropriate communication with a female student.
Superintendent Mark Schweer said a student and her parents told school officials Tuesday that there had been "inappropriate communication between a teacher and a student."
The Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office began an investigation Wednesday. Sheriff Jeff Danker said two warrants were issued for the arrest of 30-year-old Daniel Pantoja: one alleging sexual exploitation by a school employee and one lascivious conduct with a minor.
Danker said he expected Pantoja, a resident of Omaha, to turn himself in on Thursday.
Danker said investigators met with the 17-year-old student and her father Wednesday to explore text messages she had received from Pantoja, who was her Spanish teacher.
The text messaging allegedly began in December. Danker said the messages included questions about "why the girl didn't have a boyfriend, because she is so beautiful."
At some point it is alleged he took the girl's cell phone without permission and saw a photo of her wearing just a sports bra and short shorts. Danker said Pantoja texted the teen that she could receive a better grade if she texted him the photo.
After receiving the photo, it is alleged that a picture of a man's naked torso covering his genitals with his hand was received by the teen from Pantoja's cell phone.
Schweer said the teacher was contacted after the district was made aware of the accusations and "when he was presented with information shared with us, that's when the teacher resigned."
Schweer said no more than two hours elapsed between the time of the complaint by the parents and the end of the teacher's employment.
"We take the allegations seriously," Schweer said. "The safety and well being of our students is of primary importance. This was a situation in which there was inappropriate communication between a teacher and a student, and that should never occur. The teacher is no longer employed."
The school board unanimously approved the teacher's resignation at a special meeting Wednesday afternoon.
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