A Colonial School District math teacher was arrested Friday after a six-month investigation into allegations that he raped an eighth-grader and solicited nude photos from a former student.

Umar Ahmad, 37, of Denny Circle in Bear, was charged with felony first-degree rape and felony sexual solicitation of a child, said state police Senior Cpl. Jeff Whitmarsh said.

Ahmad's arrest is the latest among Delaware teachers accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with students.

The investigation began in October, when school district officials reported that the student's parent told them he had found suggestive text messages from the teacher on his 14-year-old daughter's cell phone.

Ahmad gave his cell phone number to students who needed help with math, police said.

...

"He was immediately removed in October from his assignment and from any contact with students in the district." Meney said.

Ahmad has been on paid suspension since then, Meney said. Now that Ahmad has been arrested, the district will "take swift and appropriate action," he said.

According to court records, the text messaging began in the months leading up to the 2009-1010 school year. They started as nothing serious but changed in mid-September "from flirty to more sexual," the victim told investigators.

On Oct. 30, Ahmad met the 14-year-old at a convenience store, then got into his SUV and drove to School Street in New Castle, where the two had sexual intercourse, police said in court records.

While investigating the first victim's allegation, detectives learned of a 15-year-old former student who sent nude photos of herself to Ahmad over her cell phone. Ahmad also "sent nude pictures of himself to her," police said in court records.

The second victim said she did not have physical contact with the teacher, although "he wanted to meet her to have sex," according to court records.

The victim told police Ahmad wanted her "to send pictures of her to him at least once a day," and called them his "daily," police said.

In all, the victim said, she exchanged about 50 photos.

...

Ahmad was released on $40,000 secured bail. He faces an April 19 court hearing.

http://www.delawareonline.com/articl...14--police-say