A former Parkland School District chorus and arts director is being charged with nine misdemeanor counts of invasion of privacy for allegedly secretly recording a student.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed Monday with Magisterial District Judge Jacob Hammond, South Whitehall, Detective Gregg Dietz with the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office in the Special Victim’s Unit states that on April 4 he began an investigation into a complaint made by a teacher at Parkland High School regarding a student allegation against another district staff member.

Deitz said the investigation determined that Francis Anonia, 43, an administrator as well as an active member of the school’s musical and art department, was alleged to have had inappropriate contact with a juvenile male member of the school’s 2021 musical.

According to the affidavit, the student brought forward the allegations to a teacher, who filed a ChildLine Referral.

Dietz learned that Anonia was involved in another unrelated investigation along with his fiance, William Marshall, with whom he resided at the time.

According to Dietz, on Feb. 23, 2023, a search warrant was executed at Anonia’s residence on North Berks Street in Allentown.

During the search, a cellphone, identified as Anonia’s, was seized.

According to the affidavit, a forensic analysis was not fully completed on Anonia’s cellphone.

Anonia was in possession of the cellphone when the alleged incidents that were being investigated were taking place.

The affidavit states Dietz obtained Anonia’s cellphone, which was in the custody of the Allentown Police Department, on May 14. On June 4, a search warrant was obtained to access and analyze the cellphone, which was taken to the Petzold Digital Forensic Lab.

A forensic analysis was performed on the phone.

Dietz states that five separate video files Anonia saved were taken from his cellphone that he had recorded by hiding the phone on a shelf in the Parkland High School Auditorium boys changing room.

According to Dietz, it was determined the recordings, which also captured audio, were of a known student who did not give consent to the recording, which were taken during the play “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Also extracted from files Anonia downloaded and saved from the specific videos were screenshots of the student in different stages of undress, Dietz said in the affidavit.

According to court records, Anonia is also charged with five counts of intercept communications and five counts of criminal use of communication facility, both felonies.

As of Oct. 14, Anonia was awaiting a preliminary hearing, court records state.

Dr. Mark J. Madson, superintendent of the Parkland School District, issued the following statement to the school community:

“The Parkland School District’s foremost priority is the health, safety, and welfare of our students and staff. On April 4, 2024, upon receiving information about allegations concerning Mr. Anonia, Parkland School District took immediate action.

He said the district: initiated an internal investigation; placed Anonia on administrative leave, effectively removing him from the school community; notified all mandated agencies; and accepted Anonia’s resignation on June 18.

“These swift measures align with our protocol when alleged misconduct by staff or students comes to our attention, ensuring that appropriate investigations and safeguards are promptly implemented,” Madson said. “Today’s announcement is obviously distressing to our school community.”

Calling the allegations “disturbing and inexcusable,” the superintendent said “Our students’ physical and emotional safety will continue to be the first priority of the Parkland School District and we remain committed to transparency and cooperating with the legal authorities as it relates to this matter. …”

He recommended that anyone with information should contact the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office.

Madson said guidance counselors were on hand to assist students at Parkland High School.