Concord Teacher Arrested On Prostitution, Child Sex Image Charges

CONCORD, NH — A Concord High School teacher has been arrested on child pornography and prostitution charges.

Joshua Harwood, 36, of Manchester was arrested Thursday after a multi-month investigation into online sexual activity and interactivity with people on social media and dating sites.

According to police and SAU 8, the Concord school district, a tip was given to officials in December 2020 by a former Concord High School student accusing a relatively new teacher at the school of being involved in soliciting younger men online on Grindr, a self-described dating site and app for gay and bisexual men and the trans community. The district immediately placed the teacher on leave and requested police investigate the allegations.

Detectives in Concord and Manchester as well as the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted "an extensive investigation" into the allegations, according to Deputy Chief John Thomas of the Concord Police Department, which led to his arrest.

"It is alleged that Mr. Harwood engaged in sexually explicit online activity with a person under the age of 18, during which Mr. Harwood sought and received child sexual abuse videos and/or images in exchange for money," Thomas said. "In addition, it is alleged that on one occasion, Mr. Harwood engaged in physical sexual activity with a person under the age of 18 in exchange for money."

Did you like this story? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch!

Thomas said, two more times, Harwood was accused of soliciting sexual activity from a person over the age of 18 in exchange for money.

"The investigation indicated that Harwood was a Concord High School teacher at the time the alleged offenses of solicitation to commit sexual contact occurred," he said.

Harwood was arrested Thursday and held without bail. He faces two counts of manufacture child sexual abuse images, prostitution involving a child under 18, and possession of child sexual abuse images, all felonies. He was also charged with two counts of misdemeanor prostitution and endangering the welfare of a child.

Kathleen Murphy, the superintendent of the Concord School District, did not return an email seeking comment about Harwood's employment status at post time.

Harwood, according to a story on PenmenPress.com, the Southern New Hampshire University online newspaper that has since been removed, taught business at the school and grew up in Sutton. He holds a business administration degree with a minor in sociology.

The Concord Police Department is continuing with the investigation and asking anyone with info about Harwood to contact them at 603-225-8600. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Concord Regional Crimeline at 603-226-3100 or online at concordregionalcrimeline.com.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

Got a news tip? Send it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel.