SAN ANTONIO – Jared Anderson, 28, a local high school English teacher and church group leader, is accused of hosting sex parties in his North Side home with teenage boys as his guests, San Antonio police said Thursday.
Police said Anderson took part in sex acts with some of the teens. Anderson was arrested on several charges early Thursday including sexual performance of a child and indecency with a child.
Police said they expect to file more charges against him in the near future.
According to Sgt. Jesse Salame, spokesman for SAPD, the incident was first reported at a church and the church then in turn, called Child Protective Services. Salame said detectives interviewed seven teens who all gave statements about the illegal and lewd activities.
Police said Anderson hosted several sex parties involving teenage boys, including one on Feb. 12 which he called "Bro's Night."
"(They involved) anywhere from seven to 12 boys, ranging in ages from 15 to 17, maybe one or two 18-year-olds," said Sgt. Jesse Salame, a spokesman for SAPD. “During those parties, he played games where he encouraged them to get naked and perform sexual acts on each other.”
Salame said Anderson admitted to the allegations during questioning by detectives. He added Anderson also sent text messages to some of the teens’ parents apologizing for what he had done.
As part of the investigation, detectives searched Anderson’s home. Salame did not mention what, if anything was found, although a report issued said Anderson is suspected of possessing child pornography.
Police originally said they were not able to offer information regarding the school or school district where Anderson worked. But according to information on the Judson Independent School District website, Anderson has been working as an English teacher at Judson High School.
Neighbor surprised by claims against Anderson
Sex-related charges against Anderson left at least one of his neighbors stunned. Mark Schenk said he had never seen anything out of the ordinary at the home.
“He's always out playing with his wife and kids and the other neighbors' kids,” Schenk said. "I've never seen teenage boys running around the neighborhood or heard anything like that. We're home quite a bit."
WATCH: Neighbor speaks to KSAT 12
San Antonio police, meanwhile, said they have heard plenty, leading them to believe that Anderson has hosted several sexually charged parties at his home involving teenage boys.
Salame said that some of the information detectives gathered came from Anderson himself when he confessed after his arrest.
Salame said the case first came to light after some of the teens spoke out to officials at their church. Anderson served as a group leader at the church, Salame said.
KSAT 12 News has confirmed that Anderson attended a local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church issued the following statement:
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind. When we learned of this situation, local leaders reported it immediately to law enforcement. Anderson has been removed from all responsibilities within the local congregation. The Church is supportive of the efforts of authorities to investigate and prosecute this matter."
Judson ISD said in a statement Thursday that Anderson has been placed on administrative leave during SAPD's investigation. Read the full statement below:
Judson High School teacher Jared Anderson has been put on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation being conducted by San Antonio Police of allegations of sexual misconduct. Mr. Anderson has been employed by JISD for two and a half years as an English teacher.
Judson ISD is obviously very concerned about these charges and will fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation by SAPD, but will let the legal process take its course.
As has been explained in the past, Judson ISD conducts a multi-layered screening process with every potential employee that checks for any and all felony or misdemeanor charges.
Police did not say whether any of the teens involved were students at Judson High School. However, they do suspect that the victims whom they have identified may not be the only ones.
"We're going to be interviewing many more people,” Salame said. “What we're asking is that anybody that has got any other information, any other potential victims, please come forward."
Anyone with knowledge about the case is asked to call SAPD’s Special Victims Unit at 210-207-2313.