Former Somerville Teacher Arrested on Child Porn Charges

A former Somerville elementary school teacher was arrested Thursday and charged with transporting child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz’ office.

Josh Wairi, 27, of Beacon Street, Somerville, who taught fifth grade in the Graham & Parks School in Cambridge until his arrest, is being held without bail pending a detention and probable cause hearing scheduled for Wednesday, April 23, according to federal authorities.

After his arrest, Wairi was immediately placed on paid administrative leave, according to Cambridge Superintendent Jeffrey Young.

Wairi was a student teacher at the John F. Kennedy School in Somerville during the 2008-2009 school year and taught at the Arthur D. Healy School in Somerville, as a sixth grade teacher during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years and as a fifth grade teacher during the 2011-2012 school year, according to a joint release Thursday from Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone and Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi.

The federal complaint against Wairi alleges that he used his email account to trade and receive hundreds of images and videos of child pornography and also uploaded images and videos of children being sexually exploited. The complaint alleges that Wairi then sent the uploaded images and videos to other users.

According to the affidavit against Wairi, during questioning, he admitted to secretly filming children in various states of undress with his cell phone camera on more than one occasion and admitted to hiding a camera in a locker room to film children changing. The affidavit doesn’t state where these alleged tapings occurred.

Wairi also posted an ad on Craigslist offering babysitting services, and there is a daycare in the first floor of his apartment building, according to the affidavit.

If convicted, Wairi faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, authorities said, as well as years of supervised release, up to a lifetime, and a possible $250,000 fine.

The mayor and superintendent’s release has a full list of resources available to parents, including meetings, a phone hotline and counseling.

Members of the public who have questions for the U.S. attorney’s office regarding this case can call 617-748-3274.