Bullhead City teacher arrested for sexting, giving drugs

BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. (AP) - A Bullhead City high school teacher is facing charges he allegedly texted explicit messages and photos to one student and smoked marijuana with several others.

Bullhead City police say 33-year-old Joseph James Pagel was arrested Friday on several counts including attempted sexual conduct with a minor and furnishing harmful items to minors.

According to investigators, Pagel began exchanging inappropriate texts with a female student last fall. They say the texting escalated into him sending two nude pictures and making sexually lewd requests.

Police say further interviews indicate Pagel had students over to his home on several occasions where they all smoked marijuana together. He also allegedly gave some students narcotic pills while on campus.

A message left with the school's district office was not immediately returned Friday.