LONDONDERRY, N.H. – A New Hampshire high school English teacher who allegedly e-mailed nude photos of herself to a 15-year-old male student was arrested Friday on a felony charge of indecent exposure and lewdness.

Melinda Dennehy, 41, of Hampstead turned herself in to Londonderry police and was later released on $10,000 bond. She was placed on administrative leave from her job at Londonderry High School on Wednesday, the day school officials and police were notified about the pictures being passed around the school.

The boy who received the photographs told police Dennehy also sent him text messages offering to have sex, and that she kissed him on the mouth in a classroom at least twice.

Several male students, including the recipient of the images, were interviewed, and at least one photograph shows Dennehy with her genitals exposed, Londonderry Detective Kristen Gore wrote in an affidavit.

Calls to the home of John and Melinda Dennehy in Hampstead seeking comment were not immediately returned.

The student who received the photos told police he forwarded them to two male friends. He also told police that Dennehy sent him text messages “continuously.”

Dennehy used her private AOL account to e-mail the photographs, according to a copy of an e-mail supplied to police, the affidavit said.

Because the boy who received the pictures is under the age of 16, Dennehy faces up to seven years in prison and a $4,000 fine, Londonderry Lt. Chris Gandia said.

It wasn’t immediately known if the boy who received the photos was one of Dennehy’s students. She has taught sophomore English at the school for three years.

Londonderry School Superintendent Nathan S. Greenberg said Dennehy was placed on paid leave Wednesday, the first day school resumed after winter break. He said the school is conducting its own investigation and declined to provide further details.

Dennehy is scheduled to appear in Derry District Court on March 23.

 

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