A Parkland Area School District teacher has been charged with having illegal sexual contact with a student.

Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin announced today that Christopher Johnson, 34, a teacher at Parkland High School, has been charged with one count each of unlawful contact with minors; corruption of minors; and, institutional sexual assault, all felonies of the third degree.

He surrendered with his attorney at South Whitehall Township Police Department this afternoon and was arraigned through Central Booking.

On April 2, the parents of the victim looked at their daughter's cellphone and noticed there were inappropriate communications between her and Johnson.

School administration and police were notified.

On April 5, Det. Tim Shoudt, of the South Whitehall Township Police Department, and County Det. Andrew Millen, of the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office, interviewed the victim.

During the interview, it was learned that the minor was being tutored by Johnson in an academic subject starting in January. Incidents took place at her residence as well as other locations.

The victim related that the relationship between her and Johnson changed from student-teacher to one of a sexual nature shortly after the tutoring began, and that the sexual contact continued until late March.

Johnson was interviewed and acknowledged that he did communicate with the minor via text messages from his cellphone.

It was determined through forensic examination of both the victim's and Johnson's cellphones that the content of their texts was sexually graphic.

The texts described their sexual activities and the scope of their contact in detail.

Martin commended the school district, as well as Superintendent Richard T. Sniscak, for their cooperation throughout the investigation.