By Erika Hernandez
Well-known Maryland educator arrested after investigators said he had sexual conversations with who he believed was a 15-year-old boy and arranged to meet him at a local park.
The defendant was identified as Dennis Jutras, 61, an administrator at Baltimore Metropolis Public Colleges and a former winner of “Teacher of the Year” in Baltimore.
As reported by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Map of enterprise, Jutras was arrested Thursday during an undercover operation aimed at identifying suspected online sexual predators.
The talks lasted two weeks.
Authorities said the suspect contacted an undercover agent posing as a teenager on social media on May 7.
According to investigators, the educator quickly revealed that he had worked for years as a teacher at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute before being promoted within the Baltimore school system.
Police maintain the suspect initiated intimate and sexually explicit conversationsin addition to sending images of sexual content to the alleged minor.
The exchanges would have continued for approximately two weeks.
The authorities indicated that the alleged teen agreed to meet Dennis Jutras at a Harford County park.
When the suspect arrived at the scene, officers immediately arrested him, according to the investigation.
Jutras has worked within the Baltimore Metropolis Public Colleges system for nearly 27 years.
In 2005 he was named Baltimore’s “Teacher of the Year” while working as a social studies teacher at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute.
School district suspended him after arrest
According to his professional profile, the defendant had worked since 2013 as an advanced learning coordinator for students from preschool to grade 12.
Following the arrest, Baltimore Metropolis Public Colleges reported that the employee was placed on administrative leave.
In a statement, district officials said they are not aware of any students directly affected by the case, although they encouraged anyone with relevant information to contact authorities.
“The Baltimore school system places the health and safety of students among its top priorities,” the district said.
Dennis Jutras remains held without bond at the Harford County Detention Center.
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