A Montgomery County elementary school teacher has been charged with possessing child pornography, authorities say.

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Lawrence Joynes, a 54-year-old Baltimore County resident, was taken into custody by authorities and charged with one count of possession of child pornography. He is being held on $1 million bail.

Joynes is a music teacher at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School in Silver Spring. A Montgomery County Schools spokesperson says that Joynes, who has been with the school system for 27 years, has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation goes on.

Montgomery County Police say they'll investigate whether or not any of his alleged crimes took place in their jurisdiction.

School spokesperson Dana Tofig says that Marinda Evans, the principal at New Hampshire Estates, has already placed a recorded phone call to parents and that a letter will go home with students this afternoon.

In the call, Evans told parents that the "safety and security of (their) children is their highest priority."