Between the end of March 2022 and the beginning of February 2024, a 39-year-old man who taught seventh and eighth-grade religion classes at St. Stephen Martyr Catholic School in Louisville, Kentucky, was allegedly creating pornographic pictures of students. According to reports, he used yearbook photos that were taken at the school and manipulated the images by combining them with pornographic material. The man also allegedly distributed the faux photos of the kids online.
The authorities learned about the situation and opened an investigation. They reportedly discovered that the IP address used to share the pornographic images matched the one the teacher was using. It was reported that undercover agents working on the case received hundreds of pictures from the account associated with the suspect. On February 2, the man was arrested for the allegations.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Kentucky, the suspect is facing charges of distribution of child pornography, distribution of obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse, and possession of child pornography. The FBI is still actively investigating the case. If he is convicted as charged, the man could be sentenced to up to 120 years.
After his arrest, many parents and students wondered why the archdiocese did not recognize the teacher had been involved in inappropriate acts for so long. Nearly a dozen parents and students banded together and decided they wanted to take the case to court, and they began a lawsuit against the archdiocese for their alleged oversight.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.