Old Lyme — The Lyme-Old Lyme school district and state police are investigating a series of emails containing sexually explicit language sent to students and staff Wednesday evening from a high school teacher's email account.

Superintendent of Schools Ian Neviaser said it appears that someone had access to the teacher's password and used it to send the emails, but the investigation is ongoing.

He did not identify the teacher.

"The investigation hasn't been completed, but we have no reason to believe the teacher was involved in any way, shape or form," he said in a phone interview Thursday.

Neviaser confirmed that three emails with crude language were sent Wednesday evening to students and staff. He said the school district then shut down student access to email, so the emails with crude language could be removed.

"We are in the process today of deleting those emails from all student accounts before re-enabling student access, which is expected to happen later this evening," he said Thursday.

Students in fourth grade and up have student email, but Neviaser said the younger students tend to only use email for school purposes.

Since the emails were sent at night, he said district officials are fairly confident the district was able to shut down the system and remove the messages before the younger students saw them, but he could not be absolutely certain.

He said the school district is conducting its own internal investigation, as well as working with the resident state trooper to determine the source of the emails.

Neviaser sent an email to parents Wednesday evening to inform them of the messages that were sent beginning at 8:32 p.m.

"Our technology staff is on campus and is working through the night to stop the flow of emails and track the origin of the sender," the letter said. "Should you or your student receive one of these inappropriate emails, please delete it immediately. Do not reply to the e-mail... As always, our goal is to keep students safe and, in doing so, we will work with local law enforcement to determine the source of these emails and take appropriate action."

Trooper First Class Kelly Grant, spokeswoman for the Connecticut State Police, said Thursday that state police actively are investigating the incident.

Grant said charges resulting from the investigation would depend on a variety of factors, including what is found, whether or not a minor or minors are involved and whether or not the school district presses charges.

k.drelich@theday.com