Overview
- Eric Sanville, a 39-year-old elementary special education teacher, was arrested Thursday and is being held after a first federal court appearance in Philadelphia.
- Federal court papers allege Sanville used Snapchat to entice two eight-year-old girls, including one in Sweden, to create sexual images and to communicate with dozens of other minors aged about 9 to 13.
- Investigators say the probe began when Snapchat reported two accounts to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and linked IP addresses from those accounts to Sanville.
- North Penn School District immediately placed Sanville on leave, barred him from district property and student contact, and officials say there is no current evidence that district students or technology were involved.
- The criminal complaint cites alleged impersonation of a teenager, instructions to victims and an admission by Sanville that he created multiple Snapchat accounts; the U.S. Attorney is pursuing federal charges that carry up to 30 years in prison and investigators continue to review evidence.