Harford County teacher charged with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse images

A Harford County teacher has been arrested and charged with possessing and distributing child sexual abuse images. Dominic Lafrancesca has worked at George D. Lisby Elementary in Hillsdale since 2022, where he taught music.

According to police, detectives at the Harford County Child Advocacy Center received a tip about suspicious Internet activity related to the downloading of sexually explicit images of children between the ages of one and 13.

Investigators identified Lafrancesca, 27, of Bel Air, as the suspect. After obtaining a search and seizure warrant, police arrested Lafrancesca at his home on Sunday.

According to police, Lafrancesca admitted to regularly downloading photographs of children that are considered child sexual abuse material under Maryland state law and sharing those photos online with other adults.

Lafrancesca is being held without bail at the Harford County Detention Center and faces 11 counts related to possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. No attorney was listed for him in online court records as of Tuesday.

Investigators are working with the Sheriff's Office's Digital Forensics Unit to analyze several electronic devices seized during court-ordered searches.

Before working at George D. Lisby Elementary, Lafrancesca was a substitute teacher at William S. James Elementary, Dublin Elementary, Magnolia Elementary, Bakerfield Elementary and Fallston High School from 2020 to 2022, Harford County Public Schools spokeswoman Jillian Lader said in an email Tuesday. He has been placed on leave, Lader said.

“We hold our employees to the highest standards and expectations. The allegation that an employee violated those standards is devastating,” Lader said in the email. “We want to assure our community that we will continue to fully support the Harford County Sheriff's Office and the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in their investigations.”

Anyone with victim information or relevant information regarding inappropriate actions by Lafrancesca is asked to contact Detective Reynolds at the Harford County Child Advocacy Center at 443-409-3502.

WJZ is a media partner of The Baltimore Banner.