A recently hired band director at Wetumpka High School was arrested in Louisiana last week and charged with attempted child solicitation and indecent behavior with a minor.
Andrew Belk, 30, was arrested Thursday in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, on one charge of computer-aided solicitation of a minor and one charge of indecent behavior with juveniles. The information about Belk’s arrest first appeared on the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office website, but he is not currently listed.
The alleged offense occurred on Thursday, according to the now-removed public arrest record. Belk reportedly posted a $50,000 bond on Friday and was released.
Belk’s mugshot matches the pictures posted by Wetumpka High School, advertising a meet and greet for Belk as the school band’s new band director on May 27.
While the Elmore County Public School System did not identify Belk as the one arrested, it did acknowledge that an employee had been arrested, and the nature of the accused crime was against children.
"The Elmore County Board of Education is aware of the arrest of a recently hired employee,” the school system said on social media. “This is an ongoing legal matter and personnel issue, so we are limited in the details we can provide at this time. However, we want to assure families and our community members that student safety remains our highest priority. Our school system will pursue the termination of any employee who is charged with a crime against children. Thank you.”
The Louisiana State Legislative website lists the following definition for Computer-aided solicitation of a minor:
“Computer-aided solicitation of a minor is committed when a person seventeen years of age or older knowingly contacts or communicates, through the use of electronic textual communication, with a person who has not yet attained the age of seventeen where there is an age difference of greater than two years, or a person reasonably believed to have not yet attained the age of seventeen and reasonably believed to be at least two years younger, for the purpose of or with the intent to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce the person to engage or participate in sexual conduct or a crime of violence.” “…or with the intent to engage or participate in sexual conduct in the presence of the person who has not yet attained the age of seventeen, or person reasonably believed to have not yet attained the age of seventeen.”
The penalty for a first offense is 7-10 years in prison, with possible continued restrictions on the accused person's internet use.
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