GAINESVILLE — A former football coach and teacher accused of secretly recording students at Lanier Christian Academy is now facing an additional felony charge involving child sexual abuse material, authorities said.
Investigators with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office have charged Joel Ernest Lulinski, 52, of Cleveland, with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor following ongoing forensic analysis of his cell phone.
The new charge, filed Friday, is unrelated to the allegations that led to Lulinski’s initial arrest, which involved accusations that he recorded images and video underneath the clothing of multiple female students during school hours.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators discovered a single image of child sexual abuse material on Lulinski’s phone depicting a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He has been charged with possession of that image.
Because of the additional charge, Lulinski is now being held without bond at the Hall County Jail, authorities said.
The case stems from an investigation launched after reports that Lulinski had been taking inappropriate photos and videos of students. Law enforcement seized his phone and other electronic devices as part of the investigation.
Officials said the investigation remains active, with additional forensic analysis underway on other devices collected during the case.
Lulinski was previously charged in connection with the alleged recordings involving students at the private school. Those charges remain pending.
Authorities have not indicated whether additional charges could be forthcoming.
