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Police arrest Albuquerque charter school teacher accused of criminal sexual communication with a minor
Julian Gunther
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Albuquerque police arrested a middle school teacher accused of sending explicit photos and text messages to a person he believed to be 12 years old.
Julian Gunther, 27, is charged with 14 counts of criminal sexual communication with a minor. Gunther, who teaches seventh-grade social studies at the Rio Grande Academy of Fine Arts, was arrested on Monday, according to court documents.
Gunther had not been assigned a lawyer, according to Maggie Shepard, communications director of the New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender.
Rio Grande Academy of Fine Arts could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Gunther is the third teacher since June arrested on charges of sexually exploiting minors. Last month, police arrested middle school teacher Patrick Corr and Hope Christian School teacher Kelly McEachran for alleged sexual conduct with minors.
Police responded to an online post by Gunther on May 1, where he said he was “looking for some female company.” Two Santa Fe police officers posed as a 12-year-old girl and responded to the message, telling Gunther the persona was lonely and looking for friends, according to an affidavit filed in Santa Fe Magistrate Court on June 30.
Police identified the fake profile as a 12-year-old. Gunther responded, showing police he was aware of the persona’s age. The two exchanged text messages for over a month, according to court documents.
During the time, Gunther sent several sexually explicit photos and videos of himself to what he believed was a 12-year-old girl, as well as attempting to solicit videos and photos from the persona.
Gunther mentioned to the persona he was a school teacher, but did not identify which school he worked at. Police later identified him through Facebook posts, where Gunther was posing with children from the Rio Grande Academy of Fine Arts.
