METRO DIGEST || Teacher charged with texting students

Art contest winners

YOUNGSTOWN

OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology, 11 W. Federal St., in downtown Youngstown, will display the featured winners of the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra’s “Art in Music” Contest winners in the “WHO KNOWS” Exhibit Hall from Saturday through Jan. 31.

Free refreshments will be served from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $7 per person; children 2 years and younger get in free.

Girard school finances

GIRARD

Girard City Schools’ financial statement for fiscal year July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, are complete and available for review during regular business hours at the office of the treasurer, 704 E. Prospect St.

Teacher charged

JAMESTOWN, pa.

Multiple charges have been filed against a Jamestown High School teacher who is accused of sending inappropriate text messages to students.

Kevin A. Defrancesco, 28, of Greenville, Pa., is charged with criminal attempt to possess child pornography, unlawful contact with minors, corruption of minors, sexual abuse of children, indecent exposure and open lewdness. An investigation revealed that he solicited a 13-year-old female, through text messages, to send him sexual photos of herself, after he told the victim they could trade photographs, state police in Mercer said.

During the investigation, police identified a second teen victim. Records show Defrancesco befriended the second victim and then exchanged sexually explicit text messages and photographs with her at various times from late October through Dec. 6, police said. Jamestown school officials have been cooperative in the investigation, police said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the state police in Mercer at 724-662-6162.

Fowler man found

FOWLER

The 67-year-old township man whose family reported him missing has been located and is safe.

Fowler Township Police Chief Mike Currington said the Wren Drive resident left home and didn’t tell his family where he had gone, but he was never in any danger.

The family was concerned because the man has dementia and trouble walking, police said.