A Virginia man who taught music to children in Fairfax County has been arrested and charged with multiple sex offenses involving children, police say.
Ryan Thomas Pick, 40, of Woodbridge, was arrested Monday in Hanover, the Hanover County Sheriff's Office said. Pick faces five felony counts of use of a communication system for crimes against children.
WTOP reports court records show the charges include one count of proposing sex to a minor and four counts of sex offense with a minor by computer.
Pick taught music at Cameron Elementary School in Alexandria and has been placed on leave without pay, a Fairfax County Public Schools spokesperson told WTOP.
In a letter to parents, the school said Pick would not be returning to the school and officials don't believe any students were involved in the alleged offenses.
"At this time, we have no reason to believe that any of our students are in any way involved or directly affected," the school's leter said in part.
On his personal website, Pick said he teaches music for Fairfax County Public Schools and he is the music director at Saint Paul United Methodist Church in Woodbridge, Virginia.
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His site advertises private music lessons and says that students can take lessons at his home or theirs.
St. Paul’s Pastor Scott Beck told WTOP he dismissed Pick from his position leading the choir after Pick’s family informed him Pick was facing charges of inappropriate behavior with children.
Beck told News4 that Pick tried to start a children's choir, but there weren't enough children at the church. Pick gave private lessons at the church, but Beck said parents were present. The church has a police requiring at least two adults in the room, Beck said.
Pick is in jail without bond.
