Authorities in Florida say a 47-year-old band director at a school in Orange County was arrested on suspicion of having sex with a juvenile boy in an act they say was caught on video.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Christopher Michael Blackmer was arrested in connection with a video reportedly recorded in 2014 showing him engaging in sexual acts with a boy believed to be either 16 or 17 years old at the time. The suspect was reportedly placed on administrative leave from his position at Winter Park High School after the school became aware of the investigation.
According to an affidavit submitted as part of the investigation, Blackmer appeared on law enforcement’s radar after a more recent incident. Police reportedly received an anonymous complaint in January from a current student who allegedly received a nude image of a former student — believed to be a juvenile in the picture — from the band director.
As part of that investigation, police also reported receiving information from a series of Instagram messages over an eight-month period.
Officers arrived at the school earlier this year and the suspect allegedly reacted by attempting to conceal his phone and asked to take a computer from his car to his office. Authorities took both items as evidence.
Upon reviewing the data on his phone, police allegedly found a lengthy video of the 2014 encounter with a student from Colonial High School. A search of the suspect’s Instagram message history reportedly included his admission to “hooking up” with a student.
When investigators interviewed Blackmer, they say he acknowledged conversations with the student behind the anonymous tip but denied sending the images described in the complaint.
As of the latest updates available, Blackmer remained behind bars at Orange County Jail with bond set at $5,000. He is expected to face criminal charges of child pornography.
[Featured image: Christopher Blackmer, Orange County Jail]
