A Council Rock School District employee was arrested Thursday following an investigation into the alleged solicitation of child sexual abuse material through social media platforms.
Charles Lucas Dingman, 29, of Yardley Borough, is being charged with photograph/film/depict a sex act on a computer, child sexual abuse material, contact/communication with a minor – sexual abuse, and criminal use of a communication facility.
The investigation began Jan. 16, when the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office received three tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tips detailed the suspected solicitation of child sexual abuse material on the apps Snapchat and Twitch.
According to court papers filed by the Bucks County Detectives, one message involved a user claiming to be 13 years old while requesting explicit photographs of a minor.
Detectives identified Dingman as the user behind the accounts, detectives said.
On Thursday morning, Bucks County Detectives and several local police departments executed a search warrant on Dingman’s Yardley Borough residence.
Detectives reported finding a training-style bra and a phone containing images of girls under 10 years old with exposed private areas.
In speaking with investigators from Newtown and Warrington townships, Dingman stated that police would find child sexual abuse material on his phone, detectives said.
The 29-year-old man identified himself as a teacher’s assistant at an elementary school, according to authorities.
Public records show the Council Rock School District hired Dingman in October as a teacher assistant at Holland Elementary School. The district reported he was a part-time employee and his job has been terminated.
Dingman was preliminarily arraigned before District Judge Corryn Kronnagel at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, and he was held on $250,000 bail.
Superintendent Dr. Andrew Sanko issued the below note to parents:
“As we informed you earlier today, Council Rock was notified this morning that a District employee was arrested by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office on charges related to possession of and involvement with child pornography.
“Upon learning of the allegations today, the District immediately terminated the employee. We are cooperating with the investigation, which is being handled by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and local law enforcement. We notified parents and staff of the information as soon as we received it.
“There is no doubt that this matter is deeply troubling for parents, staff, and the broader community. Crimes involving children are intolerable. Council Rock School District has zero tolerance for any form of child abuse, exploitation, or conduct that threatens the safety of students.
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“Like you, I believe that protecting children is not simply a responsibility we hold as a community, but is the foundation of the trust families place in our schools every day. Rest assured that Council Rock takes this situation seriously, as the protection, safety, dignity, and well-being of our students will always come first.
“Thank you for your continued trust and partnership as we work together to ensure our schools remain safe, supportive environments for every child.”
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
