A middle school teacher committed crimes against a child and then tried to flee the country on Friday, Fairfax County police say.
Matthew Snell, 31, was arrested Friday at El Paso International Airport after learning that county police were investigating him, police said.
He was charged with carnal knowledge of a child and taking indecent liberties with a child.
Parents found inappropriate text messages on Thursday between Snell and a teen at Thoreau Middle School in Vienna, police said.
Snell was a learning disabilities teacher at the school. He is being fired from the school district.
The district plans to make increased counseling and social work staff available at the school.
Snell was apprehended with help from federal officials. He will be extradited to Fairfax County.
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The county police department's victim services division is helping the alleged victim.
Anyone with information on Snell is asked to contact Fairfax County police. Tips can be made anonymously. A reward of as much as $1,000 is available.
