Teacher accused of sex crimes resigns

Peabody-Burns teacher Christopher Young, charged Feb. 23 with eight felony counts of alleged sex offenses involving two students, submitted a letter of resignation to the district Tuesday.

Today, at a special Peabody-Burns board of education meeting, it was accepted.

“This meeting was initially set to consider termination,” Superintendent Ron Traxson said. “Mr. Young chose to resign.”

Young had been on paid administrative leave since Jan. 31, when Peabody police and sheriff’s deputies conducted a search at Peabody-Burns High School during which Young’s cell phone was confiscated.

Partially-nude photos of the alleged student victims were discovered during a forensic analysis of Young’s phone. Those results were included in a 12-page court affidavit that was made public last week.

Preliminary hearing is set for April 16.