Former Hoover High School associate principal Charles Thomas Boyd Defreitas has been ordered to serve eight years in federal prison after admitting he possessed child sexual abuse material. U.S. District Judge Robert Huie also tacked on 12 years of supervised release, with tight monitoring of his electronic devices and internet access. Huie said he would recommend that Defreitas be placed at a Bureau of Prisons facility in Colorado that offers a specialized sex offender treatment program, and allowed him to remain free on bail with a GPS ankle monitor until he self-surrenders on April 1.
Judge Cuts Term Below What Prosecutors Wanted
Huie went below the 10-year sentence prosecutors had urged, dropping the term to eight years and tying that decision largely to Defreitas's own history as a victim of abuse, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Griffith, had pressed for a full decade behind bars in their sentencing filings. Along with the prison time, the judge imposed a 12-year supervised release term that will include ongoing electronic monitoring conditions.
Case Stemmed From 2024 Arrest, Then Went Federal
The federal prosecution followed a March 2024 arrest that began after a report by a minor. State charges were later dropped when federal prosecutors took the case, according to court records and reporting by Times of San Diego. Defreitas pleaded guilty in June 2025 to possession of child sexual abuse material. A plea agreement said the illicit images and videos were stored on a laptop, a cellphone and multiple USB drives. By that point, he had logged more than 13 years with San Diego Unified, first as a teacher at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts and later as an administrator at Hoover High.
Sexual Call, Nude Image Surface At Sentencing
At the sentencing hearing, details emerged about interactions with two young people linked to Defreitas, based on court records and reporting from the San Diego Union-Tribune. Defreitas acknowledged having a sexual phone conversation with a 17-year-old former student and admitted recording himself masturbating during the call and sending that video to the teen. Defense attorneys told the court that a nude photo he sent to a former foster child shortly after that person's 18th birthday was sent unintentionally. Court filings show Defreitas admitted possessing images and videos depicting juveniles engaged in sexual conduct.
School District Put Him On Leave, Then He Resigned
San Diego Unified officials said Defreitas was placed on unpaid leave after his 2024 arrest, and that he resigned from the district in June 2025, according to ABC 10News. The district notified parents while police and prosecutors were still investigating the allegations and declined to comment further beyond the formal personnel notice.
Next Steps: Prison Report Date And Tight Controls
Under the sentence, Defreitas must report to federal custody on April 1 to start serving his eight-year term. After release, he will live under strict conditions crafted to sharply limit and monitor his access to electronic devices, according to court orders and prior coverage. Prosecutors had pressed for a longer prison term, and the plea agreement also brought additional consequences, including registration requirements and potential financial penalties. NBC 7 San Diego outlined the penalties federal prosecutors described in connection with the plea.
Case Lands Amid Wider Scrutiny Of Educator Misconduct
The Defreitas prosecution is part of a broader pattern of high-profile cases involving San Diego County educators and school staff in recent years, raising renewed alarm about misconduct on campus. Another recent case that drew significant attention involved a former teacher who received a lengthy sentence after admitting to abusing students, a prosecution that sharpened local focus on prevention and oversight. Coverage by AP News notes a countywide push to bolster safeguards designed to protect students.
How To Share Tips With Investigators
Law enforcement and the Internet Crimes Against Children task force have previously urged anyone with information related to such cases to contact investigators. Those with information about Defreitas were directed to reach out to investigators identified in original coverage, including the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, as reported by Times of San Diego.
