Triad Middle School teacher arrested on charges related to Snapchat request for sex
A Triad Middle School dance coach and eighth-grade science teacher was arrested Thursday and charged with solicitation of a male student.
Erin M. Garwood, 39, of Edwardsville, was charged with indecent solicitation of a child, a Class 2 felony, and grooming, a Class 4 felony, according to a news release emailed Friday by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office.
“She was taken into custody (Thursday) after she surrendered herself to authorities at the Madison County Sheriff’s Department,” said Capt. Will Dimitroff. “She posted bond at the same time.”
Madison County Circuit Court Judge Kyle Napp had set Garwood’s bail at $75,000, so she was required to pay $7,500.
Charges were filed after Garwood told the male student via Snapchat that she wanted to have sexual intercourse with him, according to the news release. The solicitation reportedly occurred between Aug. 1, 2016, and Oct. 31, 2018.
Because the victim was a minor, officials aren’t releasing his name or other information.
Garwood was hired in 2005 and continued to work for Triad Community Unit School District until she was placed on paid leave in May of this year, according to Superintendent Leigh Lewis.
“Anytime an employee is being investigated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, they must be removed from their position pending the outcome of the investigation,” she said. “That is our board policy.”
Lewis said the allegation involving Garwood was brought to her attention last spring by Triad High School administrators, and she reported it to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and Madison County Sheriff’s Department.
Garwood earned $54,624 in 2017 as a teacher at Triad Middle School, according to the Illinois Public Salaries Database.
“Teachers should serve as positive, professional role models for their students,” State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons stated in the news release. “ When a teacher to student relationship steps outside of school boundaries, there are always legal concerns. In cases such as this, it is a reminder to perpetrators that evidence such as Snapchats do not entirely disappear in seconds.
“This information is available to law enforcement and prosecutors when circumstances such as this case are brought to our attention. As prosecutors, it is our duty to protect the rights of social media users, but also seek penalties for abusers. In this case, we intend to seek justice for the young victim.”
Gibbons commended the work of the school resource officer, Madison County Sheriff’s Department, Triad Community Unit School District, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Madison County Child Advocacy Center and his prosecutors for collecting the needed evidence to finalize charging.
The maximum penalty for conviction on a Class 2 felony is seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, plus fines, restitution and court assessments. The maximum penalty for a Class 4 felony is three years.
This story was originally published December 6, 2019 at 3:39 PM.
