Dallas ISD teacher arrested on child porn charges
A Dallas ISD teacher is facing federal charges after police found child pornography on his computer and cell phone.
Mark Stutheit, 59, is a teacher at Reinhardt Elementary in Dallas.
Investigators say he was communicating with an undercover officer from Australia. The Australian police tipped off local authorities about the DISD teacher in Tarrant County who went by the screen name ‘Old Man YG.’
When federal investigators searched the Saginaw home, they found files of child porn on Stutheit's computer and phone. They also got an admission from the fourth grade teacher.
In a federal complaint filed in court, an investigator wrote Stutheit copped to receiving emails with attachments of child porn from other online users and saving the material, a graphic depiction of a prepubescent girl.
The feds say Stutheit went on a site known to law enforcement as a place to trade child porn images.
The suspect drew the attention of undercover police in Australia back in May when ‘Old Man YG’ created online albums titled ‘cute butts,’ ‘bikinis’ and ‘9 y/o school girls,’ and commented on some of the photos.
Stutheit has been teaching at the school in the White Rock neighborhood since 2013.
In a statement, DISD said it was made aware of Stutheit’s arrest on Wednesday and will support law enforcement to take appropriate steps to keep students safe.
Samuel Terry, an attorney for the suspect, says his client is not accused of producing child porn and that no children he was in contact with were victimized.
Stutheit was arrested on June 23. A judge determined on Wednesday that he would remain in federal custody until a grand jury hears his case within 30 days.
Stutheit had no criminal history at all. It appears he's married and has adult children, including one who works in law enforcement.
If convicted, Stutheit could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.