At 9:04 a.m. on Thursday, January 30, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force successfully executed an arrest warrant for Nicholas James Murphy, a former performance arts teacher at Ardmore High School, according to a release from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

Murphy, a resident of Madison, was immediately taken into custody and charged with two counts of School Employee Engaged in Sexual Contact, two counts of School Employee Engaged in a Sexual Act and two counts of School Employee Soliciting Obscene Material. He was booked into the Madison County Jail, and he was held on a $70,000 bond.

Murphy had already resigned from his position at Ardmore High School on Monday, Jan. 13. According to the Limestone County School System, Murphy’s resignation was officially accepted by the Limestone County Board of Education at the school board’s meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14, after a thorough investigation on the matter led to them turning the information over to law enforcement.

The arrest culminated in a joint investigation conducted by the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement after the investigation was concluded.

“When law enforcement agencies unite, our communities are safer. Through our strong partnership with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Department of Homeland Security, we are making a lasting impact on protecting our youngest citizens from harm. Child safety is a top priority, and this collaboration is a crucial step toward a safer digital world for future generations. We must stay vigilant, educate and support each other in this fight. If you see something suspicious, don’t hesitate to report it.”

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is also committed to protecting children from online exploitation and ensuring that those who engage in such behavior are held accountable. They urged the public to report  any information related to online child exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).