Staffers and board members of the Florence Unified School District were stunned to learn one of their principals had been arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography.
Jeffery R. Yazwa, 35, was arrested at his home Thursday morning after a grand jury indicted him on 12 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and dangerous crimes against children, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas announced.
Yazwa, principal of Walker Butte K-8 School, southeast of Chandler in Queen Creek, has worked for the Florence district since 2003 in several roles, including assistant principal at Florence High School. He also worked in the Chandler Unified School District as a teacher at two elementary schools.
At a news conference, district officials said Yazwa asked to be placed on administrative leave Sunday but didn't say why. Joel Knorr, assistant to the superintendent for instructional services, has taken over as Walker Butte's interim principal.
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The arrest came after someone provided the FBI with an abandoned desktop computer containing sexually explicit images of children. Investigators found the computer had been abandoned by Yazwa at one of his previous residences.
Authorities haven't uncovered any incidents of sexual conduct with minors or reports of misconduct with students in either school district.
Florence interim superintendent Gary Nine sent a letter to parents and an e-mail to staff members notifying them of the arrest.
Board member Teri Kuebler described Yazwa as highly respected, trustworthy and a friend to many parents.
"This is a very sad moment for us," said board president Amy Fuller, whose daughter attends Walker Butte. "To my knowledge, Mr. Yazwa has been a great principal to us and a team player."
The district has been through several challenges recently, including the abrupt resignation of its superintendent and the board's decision not to renew contracts of three of its six principals for the next school year.
Of the principals in the four K-8 schools along Hunt Highway, northwest of Florence, Yazwa was the only one whose contract was renewed for the next school year.
