A 70-year-old North Shelby County man already facing more than a dozen child sexual abuse material charges from last year is back behind bars after investigators say he disseminated new illicit images while out on bond. Michael Roy Bridges was booked into the Shelby County Jail on one count of dissemination of child sexual abuse material, and his prior $195,000 bond tied to a 2025 case was revoked as a result.
According to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, the agency received information in early August 2026 about possible dissemination of child sexual abuse material and opened an investigation that ultimately led to Bridges' new arrest. He is now held on a separate $30,000 bond for the fresh charge, the sheriff's office says. Investigators have not found evidence that the images were produced in or near Shelby County, and the case remains open, with additional charges possible.
Bridges was first arrested in May 2025 on 13 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, a case that emerged after he was terminated from his job at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School, where he had worked for years as a drama and theater teacher, former assistant principal, and classroom teacher, according to KVIA. School staff discovered illicit images on his school-issued laptop before reporting the matter to police. He was held on a $195,000 bond following that arrest, per the Shelby County Sheriff's Office.
Why the New Charge Carries Heavier Legal Weight
The new count against Bridges is significant because Alabama law treats dissemination far more harshly than simple possession. Under Alabama Code § 13A-12-192, simple possession is a Class C felony punishable by one year and one day to 10 years in prison, while possession with intent to disseminate is a Class B felony carrying 2 to 20 years in prison, according to Justia Law. The same statute specifies that transferring such material from one electronic device to another device, program, application, or online storage site accessible to other users counts as prima facie evidence of intent to disseminate.
Bridges' arrest on a new offense while free on bail was followed by revocation of his existing bond. His $195,000 bond from the 2025 case was revoked.
A felony conviction for possessing or disseminating child sexual abuse material in Alabama also carries mandatory lifetime sex offender registration under the state's Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, per The People's Defender.
Sheriff Points to Pattern of Repeat Enforcement
Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego said the investigation reflects his agency's continued efforts to hold individuals accountable for possessing or distributing child sexual abuse material. “The exploitation of children does not end when an image is created. Every time this material is shared, the victimization of that child continues,” Samaniego said, adding that investigators remain committed to identifying people who possess or distribute the material and holding them accountable.
Bridges' rearrest comes two days after Shelby County deputies arrested another former local educator, Justin Daniel MacMahon-Sessions, a former Calera Intermediate School teacher, on 16 counts of possession with intent to disseminate CSAM on a $480,000 bond — a case Hoodline detailed earlier this week. In both cases, authorities indicated there is no evidence the images were produced locally.
To keep pace, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office added its first Electronic Storage Detection K-9, named Onyx, in May 2026. Onyx was trained by the U.S. Secret Service to detect concealed digital storage devices during child exploitation investigations.
The sheriff's office is asking anyone with information in the Bridges case to contact Investigator Fleming at 205-670-6153, or to reach the sheriff's office directly at 205-670-6000. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777 or through www.crimestoppersmetroal.com.
