BEL AIR, Maryland. — A former Baltimore City schools instructor and current administrator has been removed from his position and criminally charged following an undercover sting operation targeting the online solicitation of minors, Harford County police announced.
Dennis Jutras, 61, is charged with sexual solicitation of a minor. Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler confirmed that Jutras was apprehended after exchanging sexually explicit messages and attempting to meet with an undercover detective who was posing online as a 15-year-old boy.
According to charging documents, the undercover detective began posing as a teenager in April on a website designed for men seeking men. Jutras allegedly initiated contact with the account, providing his first name and a phone number that investigators later verified belonged to him. In the digital correspondence, Jutras identified himself as a 61-year-old educator who taught AP U.S. History and AP Government and currently worked in school administration.
Court records state that the detective explicitly told Jutras he was a 15-year-old student. Despite this, Jutras allegedly maintained a “sexually charged and personal” dialogue, sent a photo of himself that detectives used to confirm his identity, and described specific sexual acts in detail. When the detective questioned if his age was a problem, Jutras allegedly replied, “Let’s not focus on the age thing because it can be an issue if I think about it too much,” adding that “discretion is vital” and that explicit conversations should be kept on the website rather than standard text messaging.
The undercover detective subsequently coordinated an in-person meeting with Jutras, telling him he would be home alone after school. A meeting location was arranged in Bel Air, where Jutras was taken into custody.
Following the arrest, school district officials announced that Jutras was removed from duty. Representatives stated that Jutras worked with schools and students as part of the district’s Gifted and Advanced Learning program. His social media accounts indicated he visited multiple schools daily, giving him direct exposure to children. District officials noted they are not currently aware of any impact on Baltimore City Schools students. Records show Jutras taught 10th through 12th-grade history at Baltimore’s Polytechnic Institute for many years and was recognized as the district’s teacher of the year in 2005.
Amanda Rodriguez, CEO of TurnAround, Inc.—an organization providing resources to victims of sexual crimes—noted that while the recorded number of youth victims is rising, the increase reflects a higher frequency of reporting and improved access to services rather than a higher rate of occurrence.
Sheriff Gahler emphasized the importance of these sting operations, noting that the department lacks a dedicated daily undercover unit for these platforms but must intercept individuals who actively target children.
Jutras is scheduled to return to court in June. WJZ has contacted Jutras’ listed attorney for comment.
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