A high school biology teacher in Michigan has been arrested and charged with three felony counts of child pornography. Jim Preston, 45, was arraigned on Tuesday and is currently being held on $10,000 cash or surety bond.
Even more distressing, police say the computer Preston used to view the child pornography was located at school. The Detroit Free Press reports:
“Preston is charged with two counts of possession of child pornography and one count of using a computer to commit a crime. That computer was located at the high school, according to court records. He faces up to 10 years in prison on the computer charge and four years on each of the child pornography possession charges.”
Preston has been a teacher at Williamston, Michigan’s Math and Science academy for?fifteen years. School officials discovered the inappropriate material on his computer on Monday, January 19, and promptly turned Preston over to authorities.
School Superintendent Narda Murphy sent an email to parents explaining the situation:
“The district is cooperating with law enforcement agencies…The safety and well-being of our students remains the primary focus. Counselors are available for students. More information will be released as it becomes available.”
?Williamston police Chief Bob Young provided a more detailed explanation of where the case currently stands:
?We have electronic media that he used at school, we served a search warrant at his residence and we have electronic media that we seized there…This is an ongoing investigation.?
Young also said that local police are working with the Michigan State Police Internet Crimes Against Children unit to analyze all of Preston’s electronic devices.
Currently, Preston is not permitted to leave the state of Michigan or have unsupervised contact with any minors. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 5.
