Andover Teacher Placed on Leave After Alleged Child Endangerment Incident

Anthony Helinski has been placed on leave from his teaching position at Andover's Doherty Middle School after his arrest for alleged child endangerment. (Courtesy photograph/Salem, N.H. Police Department)

Anthony Helinski has been placed on leave from his teaching position at Doherty Middle School after his arrest for alleged child endangerment. (Courtesy photograph/Salem, N.H. Police Department)

An engineering teacher from Andover’s Doherty Middle School has been placed on leave in the wake of his Wednesday arrest for alleged child endangerment, school officials confirm to WHAV.

Anthony Helinksi turned himself in to Salem, N.H., police on Wednesday, five days after he was videotaped prompting a young girl to pass him prizes from inside a KeyMaster arcade-style game inside the mall foyer. Detectives said Helinski, accompanied by another child, later left the area with the stolen items.

Andover Public Schools Communications Director Nicole L. Kieser said the district is fully cooperating with the investigation into Lawrence’s Helinski.

“The teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation,” Kieser told WHAV.

Released on his own recognizance, Helinski will be arraigned on October 29, and must answer to charges including three counts of theft, two counts of criminal trespass and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.