Tahoe teacher arrested on federal child porn charges

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A teacher at the Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School in South Lake Tahoe was arrested Friday on federal charges related to child pornography, officials said.

Karsten Gronwold, 49, was transported to a jail in Sacramento County at no bail Friday, according to El Dorado County sheriff's Sgt. Don Atkinson.

"(The investigation) is in the infant stage right now," Atkinson said. "We haven't really flushed anything out on it."

Atkinson said the investigation, at this time, did not point to any wrongdoing related to Gronwold's work as a second-grade elementary teacher.

Gronwold was placed on paid administrative leave, said Beth Delacour, human resources director for the Lake Tahoe Unified School District.

A recorded phone message from district Superintendent Jim Tarwater, and environmental school principal, regarding the incident was delivered to parents and staff Saturday.

Tarwater's wife, Gina Tarwater, a credentialed teacher, was set to take Gronwold's place at the school.

"It is a tragedy and we're committed to work with the sheriff's department," Tarwater said, stressing no illegal activity occurred at the school. A "response team" will be made available for those who need counseling, Tarwater said.

"We will keep (parents) informed as this evolves," he said.

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