CONCORD HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER CHARGED WITH SEX CRIMES INVOLVING A MINOR

Josephine Rodriguez ABOUT SEX OFFENDERS AND OTHERS, CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, GOOD POLICING CATCHES SEX OFFENDERS AND OTHERS, INTERNET OFFENDER CASES, NEW HAMPSHIRE, SCHOOL OFFICIALS, SEX OFFENDERS AND OTHERS APPREHENDED, SEX OFFENDERS AND OTHERS IN POSITIONS OF TRUST, SEX OFFENDERS AND OTHERS WHO REOFFEND, SHAME ON YOU, TEACHERS SCHOOL STAFF

February 4, 2021
Mark Hayward
Union Leader

A Concord High School teacher has been arrested and charged with several sex crimes involving a minor, Concord police announced Thursday.

Manchester resident Joshua Harwood, 36, was arrested Thursday and charged with:

Two Class A felony charges of manufacturing child sexual abuse images.

One Class B felony charge of prostitution involving a minor.

A felony charge of possession of child sexual abuse images.

Misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a child and solicitation to commit sexual contact. The solicitations charges involve an adult, Concord police said.

Concord police said Harwood was a Concord High School teacher when the solicitation to commit sexual contact occurred.

The Concord School District hired Harwood in July with the expectation he was a professional and would be a positive role model for students, said Superintendent Kathleen Murphy in a statement.

“As Superintendent, I am outraged at this individual’s behavior,” she said.

She said school officials placed Harwood on leave when the allegations surfaced in December. They also issued a no-trespass order keeping him from school building and grounds.

The announcement harkens to 2019, when the arrest of Concord High School teacher Primo “Howie” Leung rocked the school district.

Parents protested to the school board, and a consultant detailed coverups on the part of Principal Tom Sica and Superintendent Terri Forsten. Both resigned, and Forsten recently surrendered her teaching certificate.

Concord Deputy Police Chief John Thomas said Harwood turned himself in to police on Thursday. He said Harwood was living in Manchester when the investigation began.

He said the alleged victim is a former high school student.

“We’re unaware of any other victims, but we’re actually reaching out to see if there are other victims,” Thomas said.

Anyone with information can call the Concord crime line at 226-3100.

Concord police said they began an investigation in December after being alerted to inappropriate activity.

Harwood allegedly participated in sexually explicit online activity and received videos involving the minor, Concord police said. At least once, he allegedly had physical contact with the minor in exchange for money, police said.

Murphy said school district officials launched an internal investigation and found that Harwood violated state Department of Education codes of conduct and ethics regarding internet use, professional expectations and social media.

Parents were informed on Dec. 21.

Harwood refused bail and is being held at the Merrimack County jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Merrimack County Superior Court.

The Concord police, Manchester police and New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force participated in the investigation.

https://www.unionleader.com/news/crime/concord-high-school-teacher-charged-with-sex-crimes-involving-a-minor/article_849aef8c-5756-5bbb-ae06-11e48fdc2bcd.html

Message from Executive Director Laura A. Ahearn: Please visit our website at www.crimevictimscenter.org for news, information and resources in your community.

Follow on:
https://www.facebook.com/ParentsForMegansLaw