A 48-year-old Bethel School District teacher was arrested for voyeurism and possession of child pornography at Spanaway Lake High School. The teacher, whose name has not been released, was taken into custody during a planning period in which no students were present, according to Pierce County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Darren Moss. Concurrently, a search warrant was executed at the individual's home, as The News Tribune reported.
Sgt. Moss told FOX 13 Seattle that the investigation was prompted by an event on August 28 when a 14-year-old girl discovered a USB charger with an embedded camera in her bathroom; she shared the space with her 11-year-old sister, the girls were dismayed and scared, having no idea where the nefarious device originated. The initial report led detectives to establish probable cause, and consequently, the arrest of the suspect was made, who is reported to be a relative of the victims.
Furthermore, KOMO News affirmed that the man has been booked into the Pierce County jail on the charges stated. While the allegations are grave, Sgt. Moss emphasized that, as of now, there has been no information to suggest the suspect was committing any crimes within the confines of the school premises, however, confirming the arrest was directly tied to the exploitation materials involving minors.
As the Pierce County Sheriff's Department proceeds with their stringent inquiry, the scope of their investigation may expand—"We've only been able to search that device," Sgt. Moss said to FOX 13 Seattle, hinting at the potential for additional incriminating material that might be uncovered on other devices, should they be located during their search efforts, which could lead to the unfolding of a larger, more complex case.
