East Bridgewater

Middle School Custodian Speaks After Arrest on Child Enticement Charges

Police allege that Peter Tolan, 58, was sending sexually explicit messages to someone he believed was a 15-year-old girl and agreed to meet up for sex

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A custodian at a middle school Rockland, Massachusetts, is on leave after he was arrested on child enticement charges in East Bridgewater, the district superintendent confirmed Tuesday.

Peter Tolan, 58, was arrested by East Bridgewater Police this week. Police allege that Tolan was sending sexually explicit messages to someone he believed was a 15-year-old girl on social media. Tolan agreed to meet up with the girl for sex, police said.

In reality, Tolan was communicating with an East Bridgewater detective, who showed up at the agreed upon meeting location and arrested Tolan. Police said a search of his phone found the messages that matched up with those sent to the detective.

Tolan spoke exclusively with NBC10 Boston Tuesday.

"Why did you contact someone you thought was underage?" NBC10 Boston's Darren Botelho asked him.

"I have no idea," Tolan replied. "She gave me her phone number. I don't know why."

Court documents show Tolan was told the person he was chatting with on SKOUT, a social media app, was a 15-year-old girl and a freshman in high school.

Tolan, who's from Rockland, goes on asking to meet for a sexual act, sending a picture of himself below the waist.

"What would you have done when you met up with this girl?" Botelho asked Tolan.

"I don't know, I just would've talked to her. I wouldn't have done anything, you know? I just, I wouldn't have done anything," Tolan responded.

Court documents show police confiscated a cellphone and a condom from Tolan's back pocket.

"I just never should've. You got to stay off those social media sites. I never should've done it, my fault," Tolan said.

Rockland Public Schools were notified of Tolan's arrest when investigators realized he was employed by the district.

In a letter sent to families, Superintendent Alan Cron confirmed a custodian at Rogers Middle School was arrested in East Bridgewater. He will remain on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Cron said that the alleged incident does not involve anyone else from the Rockland Public Schools.

Tolan was released on a $500 bail after his arraignment at Brockton District Court Tuesday. He was ordered to have no contact with minors, cannot use social media, must stay away from Rockland Public Schools and cannot apply for a job in any school system. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Nov. 30.

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