Teacher From Delco Faces Child Porn Charge After Targeting Kids On Snapchat: Feds

NORWOOD, PA — A Delaware County man who teaches elementary schoolers created a fake Snapchat account pretending to be a teen in order to solicit sexual photos from underage girls, authorities said.

Eric Sanville, 39, was federally charged Thursday with manufacture or attempted manufacture of child pornography. He was arrested at his home in Norwood and will remain in federal custody during criminal proceedings, officials said.

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Sanville is a teacher at Gwynedd Square Elementary School in Lansdale, Montgomery County. A LinkedIn profile indicates he has worked there since 2017.

NBC Philadelphia reported that the investigation began in July when Snapchat reported suspicious accounts they believed were targeting young girls. The FBI was then able to trace the IP address of the accounts to Sanville's home.

There is no evidence that Sanville targeted any children at Gwynedd Square Elementary or in the nearby area, said North Penn School District Superintendent Todd M. Bauer.

"We recognize that this news is deeply concerning for our entire community and may be particularly upsetting for families whose children had direct contact with this staff member," Bauer said in an email to school parents. "We encourage you to speak with your child in a manner you feel is appropriate and to listen carefully if they have any questions or concerns."

The District is working with law enforcement on the ongoing investigation.