Child porn charges for ex-Katy teacher

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An Austin County grand jury indicted former elementary school teacher Stephen Wayne Sudduth, 34, of Sealy, on 30 counts of possession of child pornography and 10 counts of promotion of child pornography.

READ IT: See the indictment against Sudduth
SEARCH WARRANT: Read the search warrant in the Sudduth case

According to the Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott's Cyber Crimes Unit, investigators found more than 57,000 images and 1,000 videos during a forensic examination of Sudduth's computers and external media devices.

The Cyber Crimes Unit began investigating Sudduth after a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicated Sudduth possessed child pornography. Cyber Crimes Unit investigators arrested Sudduth after the felony indictments.

In July, Sudduth resigned from a Hays Consolidated Independent School District teaching job he was set to begin. Sudduth is prohibited from using the Internet and being near children until trial.

Before he transferred to Hays Consolidated ISD, Sudduth was employed as a teacher at Katy ISD's Nottingham Country Elementary School from 2000-2006. According to Katy ISD officials, after undergoing background and reference checks required of all new employees, he taught 5th grade from 2000-2003 and kindergarten from 2003-2006. He submitted his resignation in April, 2006, to teach overseas in an international school. His last day of employment with Katy ISD was May 25, 2006. At the time of his resignation, there was nothing in his teaching record or experience here that gave evidence of this type behavior.

"An elementary school educator possessing thousands of sexually explicit images and video of children frightens parents around the state," Attorney General Abbott said. "Today's indictment reflects the Cyber Crime Unit's continued focus to capture the worst of the worst cyber criminals. Investigators will continue working to stop sexual predators from exploiting children online."

Under Texas law, possession of child pornography is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Promotion of child pornography is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Parents who have questions or relevant information about this case may contact the Office of the Attorney General's Criminal Investigations Division at 800-252-8011.

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