A former Thomson teacher who was arrested and charged with two counts of computer pornography and child exploitation on Feb. 24, 2010, has waived jury trial.

Philip Bradley Pirkle, a former Thomson Middle School band instructor, is scheduled to plea before Toombs Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Harold A. Hinesley on Oct. 6 in McDuffie County.

Pirkle resigned in July 2009 after Georgia Bureau of Investigation authorities secured a warrant, searched his house and seized his computer for evidence linking him to inappropriate communications with a 14-year-old girl.

The girl's mother had informed the McDuffie County Sheriff's Department her daughter had been on MySpace communicating with Pirkle.

The communications were of a sexual nature. Pirkle was indicted by a grand jury in August 2010.