An Ohio elementary school teacher is facing federal charges after being accused of participating in a child pornography website, Breitbart News reports. Mark Altherr, a physical education teacher at Delshire Elementary School in Cincinnati, Ohio, allegedly belongs to a website that is described as a “child pornography community.” He has been a member since 2021 and has made 262 posts, according to Local 12/WKROC-TV.
The news outlet called the 45-year-old a “senior member” of the website.
According to Cincinnati FBI Special Agent Nathan Holbrook, the website has over 100 members and 25 members called “staff” who manage it.
On the website, Altherr wrote that he was attracted to children between the ages of five and 12. He also described what he wanted to do to them, according to Holbrook. Altherr also posted in a thread titled “3 to 5 year old cuties only,” which depicted images of nude children.
Authorities also found a post he made after being employed at the school.“I’m excited to start my first year at Delshire Elementary!” He wrote.
While under FBI surveillance, an investigator saw a man fitting Altherr’s description getting into the car with a young girl around 7:54 p.m. on July 26, Fox 19 reported.
Altherr took the young girl to a hotel in Columbus Ohio. Going back to the website, authorities noticed that he had made another post. According to the affidavit, the post contained child sexual abuse content.
Fearing for the young girl’s safety, agents knocked on the door and identified themselves, the federal criminal complaint stated.Altherr opened the door, but then had second thoughts and closed it, the complaint said. When agents entered the room, they discovered the young girl “completely nude.” They also found a book bag, a laptop, a cellphone, and two suitcases. He was arrested and placed into custody around 9:20 p.m.
Authorities believe that Altherr has other victims. In some of his posts, he reportedly described sexually assaulting children ages four, eight, and 10.
Upon searching his home, agents allegedly found pictures of children being sexually assaulted on his electronic devices, including two USB drives.
Altherr opened the door, but then had second thoughts and closed it, the complaint said. When agents entered the room, they discovered the young girl “completely nude.” They also found a book bag, a laptop, a cellphone, and two suitcases. He was arrested and placed into custody around 9:20 p.m.
Authorities believe that Altherr has other victims. In some of his posts, he reportedly described sexually assaulting children ages four, eight, and 10.
Upon searching his home, agents allegedly found pictures of children being sexually assaulted on his electronic devices, including two USB drives.
“It makes me sick at my stomach,” a neighbor who lives next door to the school told WCPO after learning about the allegations. “It just makes me so frickin’ sick.”
He is being held at the Butler County Jail until he is transferred over to federal authorities. He is charged with possession and distribution of child pornography, which are both class B felonies. If convicted, he could face up to 40 years in prison.
More charges are expected to be filed against him pending an investigation, the U.S. District Attorney said. Authorities have asked Altherr’s victims to come forward.
On Monday, the Oaks Hill school board voted to terminate him. He has been employed at Delshire Elementary School since 2019.
source:resistthemainstream.com
