High School Theatre Director Accused of Secretly Recording Student

Last month police arrested Francis Anonia, the former chorus teacher and Director of Visual and Performing Arts at Parkland High School in PA. He's accused of secretly recording video of a student while he changed clothes. Anonia is facing 19 criminal charges in total, including 10 felonies.

According to a criminal complaint, Anonia had inappropriate contact with a juvenile male member of a school musical in 2022.

The student took the allegations to a teacher, who reported them to ChildLine, a hotline that allows people to reported suspected child abuse or neglect.

As the investigation continued, it also revealed five separate video files extracted from Anonia's phone that he allegedly recorded in 2021 while it was hidden on a shelf in the Parkland High School Auditorium boys' changing room, authorities said.

According to the affidavit, the videos showed a student in the play "Joseph and the Amazing Technocolor Dreamcoat."

The student confirmed to authorities he was the one in the videos, the affidavit states. He acknowledged they were taken from practices and dress rehearsals for the musical and were recorded without his consent.

The charges against Anonia are related to the reported 2021 incident and come six months after local news first reported on concerns from parents regarding Anonia's absence from the district.

An email to parents in April from schools Superintendent Mark Madson addressed Anonia's absence in the spring.

On June 18, the Parkland School Board accepted Anonia’s resignation without addressing it.

Last month, In an email to parents Monday night, Madson called the criminal allegations by Lehigh County detectives against Anonia "disturbing and inexcusable."

"Our students’ physical and emotional safety will continue to be the first priority of the Parkland School District and we remain committed to transparency and cooperating with the legal authorities as it relates to this matter," the email said.

Madson said the district may not be able to disclose additional information "to protect the privacy rights of all involved and to maintain integrity of the investigation."

He asked those with information related to the charges to contact the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office.