A teacher accused of having put a kid in a gambling machine to steal lots goes free, put on leave

Anthony Helinski, 34, was arrested after he went to the police for stealing lots from a toy vending machine in a shopping mall in Salem, N.-H. last week.

(Salem Police Service via AP)

A Massachusetts teacher was laid off this week after visiting the New Hampshire police for putting his toddler into a gambling machine in a mall to steal his prizes.

Anthony Helinski, 34, went to the police five days after recording a video at the Rockingham Park shopping center in New Hampshire showing a man encouraging a girl to distribute toys in a KeyMaster game.

The video shows another child exclaiming, "Yes, it worked," while the girl passes the awards off the machine, according to the television channel WCVB-TV Boston. The girl is later seen getting her head out of the machine before going out.

Police received several tips after the release of the video and on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against Helinski, local television channel WFXT-TV reported. Police said Helinski immediately went with his lawyer.

Helinski, a college teacher, was put on leave pending an investigation, the Andover public school district said in a statement obtained by the station.

"One of our teachers at Doherty College was involved in an incident in Salem, NH, last week, and Andover Public Schools is cooperating fully with the authorities," said a spokesperson for the province. district. "The teacher was put on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation."

Helinski, of Lawrence, Mass., Faces three counts of theft, two counts of criminal intrusion and one count of endangering the well-being of a child.

He was released with an indictment hearing scheduled for October 29.