Geoffrey Testa, a 45-year-old English teacher from Amherst, was arrested on Friday after being charged with multiple felony child exploitation offenses. The charges stemmed from an investigation conducted by the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, which had contacted New York State Police regarding Testa’s alleged online misconduct involving a minor.
Testa, who has worked at Amherst Central High School since 2006, was placed on administrative leave by the school district immediately following the arrest. Superintendent Anthony Panella informed faculty, staff, and families in a letter on Saturday, stating that the district had no prior knowledge of the investigation.
The Fairfax police have not yet disclosed the specifics of the charges, but their department confirmed the arrest is part of a larger investigation. The Amherst Central School District is cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities and providing support to those affected by the situation.
Testa was processed and taken to the Erie County Holding Center. He is awaiting extradition to Fairfax, Virginia. New York State Police are also investigating if any local victims were involved in the case.
