Baltimore Educator Arrested For Soliciting A Minor Online

ABERDEEN, MD — An Aberdeen man who teaches at Baltimore City Public Schools has been arrested for soliciting minors.

Police launched an investigation on May 7 when a detective posing as a 15-year-old boy was contacted by a man on a social media platform.

During the online interactions, the man, later identified as 61-year-old Dennis Jutras, started a conversation with the undercover detective, according to police.

Authorities said Jutras identified himself as an educator with Baltimore City Public Schools. Police said Justras also disclosed that he had taught at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute for years before becoming an administrator within the Baltimore City school system.

Jutras initiated conversations that were "sexually charged, intimate and included inappropriate sexual photos" with what he believed was a 15-year-old boy online, the Harford County Sheriff's Office stated.

The detective, still posing as the teen, arranged a meeting with Jutras at a park in Harford County, according to police.

Jutras was taken into custody without incident once police said he arrived at the park. He is currently being held without bail at the Harford County Detention Center.

Baltimore City Public Schools released a statement about the incident.

"Baltimore City Public Schools places the health and safety of students among its highest priorities. We have learned that one of our employees, Dennis Jutras, has been criminally charged in Harford County with solicitation of a minor," the school district stated.

"While Mr. Jutras worked in a role where he worked with schools and students as part of our Gifted and Advanced Learning Program, we are not aware of any impact on City Schools students. We encourage anyone who believes they may have information relevant to this investigation or may have been impacted to contact the Harford County Sheriff's Office."

City Schools provided an update to say that Jutras has been placed on administrative leave.

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone who may have been victimized by Jutras or who has information relevant to this case to come forward.

"Community cooperation is vital to ensuring public safety and supporting the ongoing investigation. Parents and guardians are reminded of the importance of discussing online safety with children, encouraging open communication about their digital activities and reinforcing that they should never share personal information or meet in person with someone they have only encountered online," the sheriff's office stated.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 410-836-5428.