Former teacher charged with child pornography

Published 2:41 pm Saturday, July 28, 2018

<p>Pornographic images of young girls were found on one of James P. Gaharan’s devices seized by authorities.</p>

<p class="p1">A former LaGrange High School teacher arrested in May for carnal knowledge of a juvenile has been charged with possession of child pornography, authorities said.

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">James P. Gaharan Jr., 55, 527 Division St., was arrested Thursday on five counts of child pornography, said Cmdr. James McGee of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. </span>

<p class="p1">Gaharan has been indicted on two counts of felony carnal knowledge, two counts of indecent behavior, computer-aided solicitation of a minor and obstruction of justice.

<p class="p1">Sheriff’s Office investigators said they received a complaint May 15 alleging Gaharan was having a sexual relationship with a student.

<p class="p1">Officials said Gaharan had sex with the student, then 15, between January and April at his home and another location and had explicit conversations with the student online.

<p class="p1">Superintendent Karl Bruchhaus said in May that the School Board “became aware of a possible situation at LaGrange High School involving a relationship between a teacher and a current student. The incident was reported to proper authorities as directed by School Board policies.”

<p class="p1">McGee said Friday that officials seized Gaharan’s computers, cellphones and other electronic devices after the arrest in May and found pornographic images of young girls on one device.

<p class="p1">Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Gaharan on Wednesday and booked him into the Calcasieu Correctional Center the next day, he said. Bond was set at $750,000 by Judge Mike Canaday.