FILE PHOTO
Swampscott Superintendent Pamela Angelakis said high school principal Edward Rozmiarek resigned after conduct “deemed inappropriate” on school-issued computers.
By STEVE KRAUSE
More information on Edward Rozmiarek, who resigned last month as principal of Swampscott High, came to light Wednesday after Beverly Police released a report of its investigation of him.
Rozmiarek was placed on administrative leave in early December as the result of the investigation by Beverly Police. He later resigned, with Swampscott Superintendent Pamela Angelakis saying, in a letter to parents, that the action occurred as the result of conduct “deemed inappropriate through his school-issued computers.”
In a letter to parents on Thursday, Angelakis called the allegations against Rozmiarek “totally repugnant and disgusting.”
According to the report, Rozmiarek, of Beverly, had a series of Internet chats with someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl. However, the report said, Rozmiarek was actually corresponding with a trained decoy from a non-profit group called The Perverted Justice Foundation, which turned over chat logs, screen images it had captured, along with text messages, photos and emails to investigators.
Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said his office will not file charges against Rozmiarek despite the nature of the complaint.
“There was no evidence that Mr. Rozmiarek specifically enticed the alleged victim to go or to stay at a specific location, which is required by law,” Blodgett said in a statement. “(Massachusetts General Laws) chapter 265 section 26c states that enticement means “lure, induce, persuade, tempt, incite, coax or invite” to enter, exit or remain within a vehicle, dwelling, building or outdoor space.”
“I’m not charging Mr. Rozmiarek,” Blodgett said. “The Essex District Attorney’s office does not suggest that his conduct was in any way appropriate. As repugnant as his conduct was, it simply does not cross the criminal line.”
The police report states Rozmiarek told the decoy he was a principal and a father, and that his name within the chat room was “A Great Guy.” It also said that the chats were sexual in nature and that they were initiated by him.
According to the report, a school-issued laptop also contained evidence that would indicate chat activity as well as graphic files that portrayed adult pornography.
Police said Rozmiarek, when questioned, said he knew his behavior was inappropriate and said he did it “because it’s exciting.”
Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].