UPDATE: Tucker Middle School Teacher Accused of Sex Crimes

Updated at 4:20 p.m. March 1.

Almarcus Dewayne Thomas appeared at a hearing this afternoon in DeKalb County Magistrates Court. He is charged with three counts each of statutory rape and aggravated child molestation, and one count each of sexual exploitation of a child, sexual assault against a person in custody and unlawful surveillance.

Thomas, 42, of Lithonia, is a seventh grade teacher and leader of the mathematics department at Tucker Middle School. He was arrested yesterday and is being held in Dekalb County Jail.

The alleged victim is a female student who lives on Fellowship Road, where some some of the incidents are said to have taken place. Others allegedly occurred on school property. Court documents said the incidents happened between March and September of 2011.

Thomas sat in court in a row by himself, handcuffed and wearing an orange DeKalb Jail jumpsuit. He was read the charges by the judge and was asked if he understood them. He replied that he did.

He was asked his birthdate - Sept. 8, 1969 - and his level of education. He declined a public defender and said that he would be represented by private counsel, whom he named as Baroque Thomas. The latter was not present and it is unclear if the two men are related.

The judge set a commitment hearing for Tuesday, March 20. Thomas was escorted from the building through a side exit to avoid photographers and was driven away in a red Ford. He could be seen lying down in the back seat, his face hidden from view.  

Security personnel at Tucker Middle School declined comment this afternoon and referred Tucker Patch to Walter Woods, Public Affairs Representative for DeKalb County School District. Woods did not immediately return a call from Patch.  

Original article:

A seventh grade mathematics teacher at was arrested Wednesday and charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child.

DeKalb County Police spokesperson Mekka Parish told Tucker Patch that the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit was called in by school officials to conduct a forensic analysis of a computer belonging to Almarcus Dewayne Thomas.

"Based on evidence found - nude pictures of the student - we brought charges of Sexual Exploitation of a Child," Parish said. 

Thomas is also facing other charges that were filed by the School Police. His first court appearance is at 1:15 p.m. today.

There will be more details as they become available.