Parkland School District’s former arts director is scheduled to face trial following a hearing this week related to images allegedly found on his cellphone.
Francis Anonia filed a motion ahead of Monday’s hearing to suppress evidence seized through the search of the device, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan’s office.
Authorities say a search of the phone turned up videos and photos that Anonia had recorded surreptitiously, leading to his arrest a year ago.
Anonia, 44, of the Allentown area, is accused of secretly recording a teenage student undressing for the dress rehearsal of a play in 2021.
Authorities investigating Anonia’s fiancé, a former student, seized the iPhone in February 2023. The fiancé would plead guilty in January 2024 to possession of child sexual abuse material, and was sentenced to 11 1/2 to 23 months in Lehigh County Jail.
Investigators did not analyze Anonia’s cellphone at that time and say he never requested its return.
Authorities in April 2024 opened an investigation into a complaint made by a ChildLine referral request about Anonia during his time at the Parkland School District. Police then received additional allegations of inappropriate behavior by Anonia lodged by former students and teachers, according to Holihan’s office.
Anonia agreed in an April 2024 interview with Lehigh County detectives to abandon his cellphone, the DA’s office said, and investigators the following month obtained a search warrant to access it.
The school district accepted Anonia’s resignation in June 2024.
New details of the investigation came to light during Monday’s hearing before Judge Robert L. Steinberg in the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas on Anonia’s motion to suppress evidence seized through the search of his cellphone, according to a news release from Holihan.
Lehigh County Detective Gregg Dietz testified about how the images and videos were discovered on Anonia’s cellphone and other possible criminal investigations involving Anonia, the release states.
“On cross-examination, defense counsel elicited testimony from Detective Dietz detailing former students’ reports of Anonia’s inappropriate behavior over more than a decade, including acts that occurred in other countries and Anonia’s alleged failure to report sexual abuse he witnessed involving a third party who was ultimately tried and convicted in another county,” the release says.
Attorneys were asked to file legal briefs about the seizure of the cellphone, and Steinberg scheduled Anonia’s trial for Dec. 1, 2025.
Investigators on Oct. 14, 2024, charged Anonia with five counts each of intercept communications and criminal use of a communication facility, all felonies, as well as nine misdemeanor counts of invasion of privacy. He remains free after posting $50,000 bail.
Anonia’s attorney listed in court records could not be reached for comment.
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