Vienna Teacher Charged With Sex Crimes Against Child

UPDATE: Former teacher Matthew Snell was found not guilty on one charge and will get a deferred judgement in court, according to NBC Washington.

VIENNA, VA — A Vienna middle school teacher tried to leave the country after police began investigating alleged sex crimes against a child. Matthew Snell, 31, a teacher at Thoreau Middle School, was arrested in El Paso, Texas on Friday.

The school was notified Thursday when parents found inappropriate text messages Snell allegedly sent to a teenager. Detectives began investigating, and Snell left Fairfax County as police secured arrest warrants.

Law enforcement helped Fairfax County Police track Snell to the El Paso International Airport. The U.S. Marshals Service took him into custody. He will be extradited to Fairfax County.

Snell was charged with carnal knowledge of a child and taking indecent liberties with a child by person in custodial relationship. He is identified as a learning disabilities teacher on the Fairfax County Public Schools website.

The police department's Victim Services Division is assisting the victim. Anyone with information is asked to call Major Crimes Bureau detectives at 703-246-7800.