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MILLCREEK — A junior high school teacher from the Granite School District has been arrested and accused of having a sexual relationship with a teenager.
Jeffery Luke Zawalski, 36, of West Jordan, was arrested Friday night by Salt Lake police for investigation of 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, five counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and enticing a minor.
Zawalski, the band and music teacher at Evergreen Junior High in Millcreek, arranged to meet a 15-year-old “via email on five separate occasions to meet for unlawful sexual activity,” according to a police affidavit.
The teacher also asked and received at least 10 nude images of the teen, the affidavit states.
“At the time of arrest, (Zawalski) was in possession of more than 10 pornographic images of children,” police wrote in the report.
On Saturday, Evergreen Junior High administrators sent an email to all parents informing them of the situation.
“Mr. Zawalski was arrested last evening on some very serious charges involving inappropriate contact with a minor. We are still gathering information on this matter but he has been placed on leave in the interim,” the email said. “We have received no indication from SLCPD that Granite School District students were involved. However, if any families have further information we encourage them to contact the SLCPD immediately.”
The affidavit does not say if the alleged victim is a girl or a boy.
Zalwalski has been a full-time teacher with Granite School District since August 2016, according to the district. Before that he worked at Rowland Hall and at a charter school. In 2006 he did some substitute teacher work in the Granite District.
Court records show Zawalski has no prior criminal history in Utah.
