An Indiana teacher has been arrested after he allegedly sent sexually explicit images to an underage girl in Tennessee.
Indiana State Police announced that Hunter Vires was arrested on Wednesday, June 3, following a multi-agency investigation.
Authorities in Indiana initially became aware of the allegations about Vires, 24, in early May when the Elizabethton Police Department in Tennessee reached out to the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, according to Fox 59.
The task force claimed that Vires had sent sexually explicit images to an underage victim in Tennessee and that they engaged in a “sexual conversation” via Snapchat.
It is not currently clear how Vires and the victim came into contact or how long they had been talking prior to the investigation.
The case was ultimately transferred to Indiana State Police ICAC, with Detective Robert Whyte overseeing the investigation.
Throughout the investigation, police learned that Vires lived in Bloomington, Indiana, and that he worked as a teacher at an unidentified school that is located in Indianapolis. The police department has not yet announced which school he was employed by, and it’s not currently known if he is still employed by the school district.
Vires was located at a residence in northern Indiana on June 3 and was arrested without further incident, per the outlet. Detectives also executed a search warrant at his home in Bloomington after the arrest, in which they looked for additional evidence. It is not currently clear if they found anything at his home.
After his arrest, Vires was transported to the Monroe County Jail and was hit with a preliminary charge of dissemination of matter harmful to minors.
The Indiana State Police confirmed that Vires is expected to face additional charges both in the states of Indiana and Tennessee. The additional charges will be determined as authorities learn more in the ongoing investigation.
It is not currently clear if Vires has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following his arrest. The Indiana State Police did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding the case.
Several agencies worked together in the investigation and arrest, including ISP Digital Forensics Unit, ISP Technical Services Unit, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department ICAC Section, Bloomington Police Department ICAC Section, Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, FBI and Elizabethton Police Department.
Parents, teachers, and guardians interested in learning more about protecting children from exploitation can find useful tools and information at Know2Protect.
