A North Carolina (NC) teacher who was arrested in Phoenix for allegedly molesting a child is facing new charges in several states, including Alabama, Arizona, California and North Carolina.
Investigators from the Durham (NC) Police Department's Special Victim's Unit have charged 44-year-old Nathan Stuart Elder with 33 counts of "possession of images obtained in violation of secretly peeping while using a photographic device."
Elder has also been charged with seven counts of "indecent liberties with a minor" and seven counts of "possession of images obtained in violation of secretly peeping while using a photographic device" by the Hillsborough (NC) Police Department.
The Durham Police Department began investigating Elder after they received a tip that he worked as a teacher at a local Montessori school in Durham, and the tipster was "concerned with his access to children."
During a search of Elder's electronics, investigators say they uncovered 33 images that "violate North Carolina's secret peeping laws."
Investigators also allegedly identified pictures involving possible crimes committed in Wake County, NC; Orange County, NC; Baldwin County Alabama; Alameda County, California; and Maricopa County in Arizona.
Elder was visiting family in Phoenix when he was arrested on December 30, 2018 after the parents of a preschool aged victim say he molested their daughter in the loft of their home.
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The parents of the young girl reached out to other family members in Oakland, California, whom Elder had recently visited for the holidays. They discovered another child had allegedly been molested by Elder.
Upon his arrest, Phoenix police say Elder told them he was tickling the preschooler. When confronted with the California allegations, Elder asked for a lawyer, police say.
Elder was charged with child molestation in Maricopa County. At the time of his arrest, he was being held on a $100,000 cash bond.
The Durham County police Investigators say they will continue to work with local law enforcement agencies in the aforementioned local jurisdictions to "contact the families of the children and pursue charges."
The Head of School at Montessori School of Durham released the following statement following Elder's arrest in December 2018:
"On January 1, we learned that a part-time employee, Nathan Elder, was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona on December 30, 2018 for child molestation involving a family member. The school immediately terminated his employment. We have notified parents and provided resources to address questions.
We have not received any reports of inappropriate conduct by this employee during his four months here, but will carefully review the nature of his conduct. We are committed to the safety and well-being of our students, follow rigorous background and reference checks, and maintain clear protocols that prevent students from being alone with employees."
If you suspect a child is being abused, the Arizona Department of Child Services has resources available to report the issue to a social worker. You can call the Arizona Child Abuse Hotline at 1-888-SOS-CHILD (1-888-767-2445), and will be asked for information about the child, as well as the nature of your concerns. You can also get more information from DCS about reporting abuse or neglect online.
Anyone with information pertaining to Nathan Elder may contact DPD Inv. A.R. Bongarten at (919) 560-4440 ext. 29349 or CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.
