Longtime Lafayette 4th Grade Teacher Arrested Exploitation Of Boys On School Grounds

Police say they have arrested Joe Kimerer Jr., a fourth grade teacher at Amelia Earhart Elementary School Friday morning on multiple child exploitation charges.

Police say their investigation led to the arrest and charging Kimerer Jr., 46, of Lafayette.

Police arrested Kimerer at his home Friday morning.

He has been charged with 13 counts involving multiple victims:

Vicarious Sexual Gratification (Level 4 Felony)
Child Exploitation with intent to satisfy sex desires (Level 5 Felony)
Child Solicitation (Level 5 Felony)
Inappropriate Communication with a Child (A Misdemeanor) source

An investigation by school and local police that began in late February revealed Kimerer had multiple male victims ranging from 12-to-13 years old. Many of the alleged incidents occurred inside the school, during school hours.

According to his biography on the Earhart school website, Kimerer is married with three children and has been teaching in Lafayette schools for 18 years.

The police investigation is ongoing and anyone with further information of possible additional victims should contact the Lafayette Police Department Detective Division at (765) 807-1250.