A fifth-grade teacher employed by the San Diego Unified School District has been arrested and charged with distributing pornographic images of children including a toddler, according to federal prosecutors.
David Gordon Weaks, 59, of San Diego was arrested Thursday according to a news release from the Office of the U.S. Attorney in San Diego. Multiple computers and digital items were seized from Weaks' home on the day of his arrest, officials said.
Weaks was employed as a fifth-grade teacher at Rosa Parks Elementary School, federal prosecutors said.
Investigators with the Department of Homeland Security say Weaks became a suspect in an investigation into child pornography in late March.
The investigation was looking into the distribution of child porn through an online peer-to-peer file sharing program.
Weaks' San Diego residence was identified through an IP address, according to prosecutors.
"Agents were able to download two videos directly from the IP address, both of which showed young minor females engaging in sex acts with adult males," authorities said in a news release Friday.
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According to the complaint, one of the videos was approximately 30 minutes in length and includes images of an adult nude male and a female toddler wearing fishnet stockings and a sundress.
The complaint also claims a second video file with the phrase "pt 7yo-9yo-fullsex-spank" in the name is almost two hours in length and includes an adult male and prepubescent female.
Weaks admitted to sharing the files through the file-sharing program and knowing he had possession of child pornography on his external hard drive, federal agents said in the complaint.
It is not clear if Weaks has hired legal representation.
A parent of a student in one of Weak's classes was shocked to hear the news and told NBC 7 that nothing about Weaks ever worried her when they interacted at parent-teacher conferences and other school events.
"It saddens me that throughout the years -- how many years has he worked here at Rosa Parks? If he ever did something to one of these girls, or what were his thoughts while teaching?" the mother wondered.
SDUSD confirmed that Weaks has been employed with the district for 21 years but did not provide a list of campuses where he's worked.
"I always said 'Thank you, Mr. Weaks, because you are taking care of my kids,'" parent Edvin Andrade said. "I just look at him now and say, you know, that I was wrong about it, what I thought about him. And I just hope he never intended to do something to my kids."
Weaks' neighbors in Clairemont were shocked when they learned of the allegations against the man they say often donated his time, and labor, to others in the neighborhood who needed it.
One neighbor told NBC 7 that Weaks once dug up a neighbors yard who couldn't afford to pay someone for the labor.
The person who lives next door to Weaks said he is a father and grandfather.
A spokesperson for SDUSD said the district has been fully cooperating with federal authorities in the investigation.
In a phone message, the school principal told families of the school she would visit the teacher's classes to speak with students as soon as possible and would be placing an experienced substitute in the affected classes.
“Our first priority is to provide a safe and secure learning environment for your children. We also believe in communicating openly with our students and parents about incidents that affect our campus," the principal said in part.
Classes were not in session Friday because Rosa Parks Elementary School follows a year-round calendar, said Maureen Magee, spokesperson for SDUSD.
No other information was available.
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