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CLEARWATER — A Pinellas schoolteacher was arrested at his home Thursday, accused of trading and possessing child pornography.
Aaron J. Stewart, 28, became the first person in Tampa Bay to be ensnared by the attorney general's CyberCrime Task Force, which partners local, state and federal authorities.
Investigators came across Stewart online when they noticed he was trading files of what they said was child pornography. They traced the files back to his computer at home and executed a search warrant there Thursday.
Authorities said Stewart admitted to the crimes.
According to jail affidavits, Stewart's videos depicted girls — as young as 7 years old — engaged in sex acts with men.
Stewart faces charges on nine counts of sexual performance of a minor-possession.
Anytime someone who has regular contact with children is arrested on child pornography charges, "one would have to be significantly worried," said Maureen Horkan, director of the state's Child Predator CyberCrimes Unit.
But Chuck McMullen, chief of law enforcement for the unit, said there was no indication the children in the images were Stewart's pupils.
Stewart was hired in August 2007 to teach music at Sexton, Shore Acres, Pinellas Central and Sawgrass Lake elementary schools. He was granted a voluntary transfer to Clearwater Intermediate School, an alternative school for children at risk for dropping out, where he was scheduled to begin work Aug. 11.
The district was unaware that Stewart was under investigation and learned of the arrest early Thursday morning, said spokeswoman Andrea Zahn.
Stewart will be placed on administrative leave with pay pending an internal investigation, she said. He had no record of misbehavior in the district.
Stewart was being held at the Pinellas County Jail in lieu of $180,000 bail.
As of Oct. 1, people convicted of possession or distribution of Florida-based child pornography can also be sued in civil court by the victims. That's when Florida's Exploited Children's Rights Act goes into effect, allowing the Attorney General's Office to pursue the cases on behalf of the victims at their request.
Also on Thursday, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tampa announced that Scott Wiegand, 43, of Largo has been indicted on one count of possession of child pornography. Wiegand faces up to 20 years if he's convicted. Federal prosecutors said he had possessed and received numerous items containing images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct from at least February 2007.
Times staff writer Donna Winchester contributed to this report.
[Last modified: Aug 06, 2008 03:39 PM]
Comments on this article
by Stephanie
Aug 6, 2008 3:39 PM
I pray he gets his life on track aand finds the right road...I know him and he is a good person
by Cowpoke
Aug 2, 2008 11:13 PM
I've know AJ since 1997; we met in high school. He is a good guy that just took the wrong road. I hope he can pull through this and gets everything straight.
by chris
Aug 2, 2008 7:54 PM
I hope that this sick freak never sees the light of day again!
by Haven
Aug 1, 2008 8:50 PM
Once again, I ask: what is it about our nation's men that leads them to engage in this type of sick perversion? It's getting to the point where men would rather view the sickest obscenity online than have consensual sex with their wives!
by Sean
Aug 1, 2008 8:47 PM
Tim...what are you on? The article says this guy started teaching in 2007, clearly that was during the administration of George W. Bush. I'm sorry but you can't blame Bill Clinton for everything wrong in the world.
by Tom
Aug 1, 2008 8:43 PM
I met AJ thirteen years ago. He was a fine young man growing up just like any other normal kid in the neighborhood. The other day we talked about how lucky he was to be teaching music for Pinellas schools. And now this. It's hard to believe.
by Ed
Aug 1, 2008 1:35 PM
Notice the transfer to a school for drop outs? Soft targets for predators. No one believes "troubled youth."
by The E
Aug 1, 2008 1:31 PM
Some years back I accidentally opened a link to child porn.I like legal adult porn but that child site made me sick.People who like that stuff have their brains wired differently.trading it gets you busted but if you have it on your PC w/o knowing?
by Concerned Mom
Aug 1, 2008 1:24 PM
There are other teachers who need to be looked into too - -
by Tim
Aug 1, 2008 1:12 PM
Par for the course for a teacher who started his training during the Clinton Administration.
by Fleming
Aug 1, 2008 1:04 PM
While I applaud the efforts being made to stop this type of porn, I wish more was being done to stop it from even being viewed in the first place!Where is the punishment for those that produce and show this type of filth on the internet?
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