A Front Range teacher caught in a Mesa County sex sting continued to teach because his bosses were unaware he was facing charges.

Brighton high school spokeswoman Allison Lockwood says 28–year–old Andrew Weaver was put on paid leave Thursday after he appeared in a Grand Junction courtroom on a charge of internet sexual exploitation of a child.

Lockwood says weaver would've been suspended sooner if school officials had known of the charge.

Authorities say weaver allegedly sent pictures of his genitals to someone he thought was a 14–year–old girl on march 2007.

The Mesa County Sheriff's office says authorities didn't know weaver was a teacher until he appeared in court Thursday.