Wednesday, March 27, 2024
HomeNewsArrested: Harlem Middle Teacher Asks Student for 'Booty' Shot

Arrested: Harlem Middle Teacher Asks Student for ‘Booty’ Shot

-

Scalise photoA Harlem Middle School teacher was arrested Friday for allegedly asking a young girl in his class to send him a “booty” shot, authorities said.

Joseph “J.J.” Scalise Jr., 46, of Dearing, was charged wth sexual exploitation of a minor. (Mugshot above; Facebook photo at right.)

The victim, a 14-year-old girl, had taken screenshots of her teacher’s Snapchat message that asked for a nude photo of her buttocks, authorities said. The girl lives with her grandparents, who saw the message and alerted the sheriff’s office.

Joseph ScaliseAn interview with Scalise on Friday led to the charges against the history teacher. His phone was also taken and is being searched.

“We are going through his phone to see, among other things, if there are other victims,” sheriff’s Maj. Steve Morris said.

An arrest warrant spells out exactly what he’s accused of doing:

“Joseph Scalise did send a Snapchat message to [the victim] that said, ‘I’m still wondering how that ‘emoji of a cake’ looks though. Or are you chicken.’ (Cake is slang for booty.)”

Investigators are also talking to other students to see if there are other victims, Maj. Morris said. It’s not clear that the girl ever sent a nude photo.

The school district released this statement:

“Friday evening, June 9, 2017, Harlem Middle School coach and eighth grade teacher Joseph Scalise was charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children – Felony. The School District seeks to inform Harlem Middle School parents and community of this occurrence in an effort to insure that they are aware and may respond, as appropriate. 

“The Columbia County School District is committed to providing its students with the best education possible in a safe, positive environment. In doing so, we hold our faculty and staff to the highest standards and have zero tolerance for any behavior that detracts from our mission. Accordingly, we will take appropriate action in this case.”

Cover Issue 902For more crime news, pick up this week’s edition of The Jail Report, sold in local gas stations.

 

Previous article
Next article
Greg Rickabaugh
Greg Rickabaugh
Greg Rickabaugh is an award-winning crime reporter in the Augusta-Aiken area with experience writing for The Augusta Chronicle, The Augusta Press and serving as publisher of The Jail Report. Rickabaugh is a 1994 graduate of the University of South Carolina and has appeared on several crime documentaries on the Investigation Discovery channel.
Share to...