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Police: Georgia teacher steals 9-year-old student's violin

The teacher said he needed to pay for a $700 ticket.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 06: Roman Totenberg's Stadivarius violin, which was stolen after a concert 35 years ago, is seen at an FBI press conference announcing the recovery of the violin on August 6, 2015 in New York City. Totenberg was a famed violinist who died three years ago. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

DECATUR, Ga. (AP) - A Georgia teacher told police he stole a 9-year-old student's violin because he needed money to pay for a $700 ticket.

Citing an incident report, news outlets report that video showed 21-year-old Kalif Jones of Stone Mountain stealing the instrument from the cafeteria. It also showed the Brockett Elementary School teacher walking throughout the school with the violin case in hand before leaving with it.

The criminal investigation began in late November after the student came home without his instrument. Police arrested the Dekalb County teacher after he said he stole the violin because he had recently received a $700 ticket and needed money for it.

Jail records show he was charged with a count of misdemeanor theft Nov. 29. It's unclear if he has a lawyer.

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