PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A former Philadelphia charter school teacher accused of sending nude photos to a 16-year-old girl has been arrested and charged.
According to a criminal complaint, authorities say 48-year-old Michael O’Brien sent the teen naked pictures of himself and asked for some in return. It also says he engaged in sexual intercourse with the teen “over various dates in 2024” and that he told her to delete all their texts.
O’Brien was an eighth-grade math teacher at Christopher Columbus Charter School for about three years. In a statement, school officials said he was immediately fired after they were notified of his arrest.
“We are deeply troubled by the arrest last week of former faculty member Michael O’Brien, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the young woman identified as the victim in this matter,” the school said.
The school says all teachers, including O’Brien, are required to pass strict protocols, including criminal background checks by the state police, FBI and the Department of Human Services.
O’Brien, who has been charged with unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of a minor and related offenses, has a preliminary hearing scheduled for next week.
Editor’s update, March 3, 2025:
O’Brien pleaded guilty to a child pornography charge and corruption of a minor. All other charges against him were dropped. He was sentenced to six to 12 months in prison, with immediate parole to house arrest, and will surrender in March 2025.