(Staged photo: DepositPhotos)
A former teacher at Lenawee Christian School in Adrian, about 70 miles southwest of Detroit, was sentenced this week in Detroit federal court to 24 years in prison for production and posssession of child pornography involving young girls.
In May, Matthew D. Thomas, 46, who is married, pleaded guilty. He admitted that from 2016-19, he engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a minor victim for the purpose of producing images.
(Staged photo: DepositPhotos)
He also admitted to possessing computer hard drives and cell phones that contained several thousand images and videos of prepubescent minors and minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The ages ranged from about three to in the teens, an FBI affidavit says.
Some pictures were taken in his living room, the court document adds. School administrators helped identify some teenage girls through sports team photos. Some photos were of clothed girls that were Photoshopped to make it look as if they were exposed.
“The acts of this defendant are truly reprehensible,” Acting U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin said in a statement. “This lengthy sentence protects the public and ensures that this defendant will no longer be able to victimize children."
Timother Waters, head of the Detroit FBI, echoed that:
“Crimes against children are reprehensible, especially when the perpetrator is a caretaker, teacher, or another adult who is supposed to protect children from abuse. The FBI considers the investigation and prosecution of predators like Mr. Thomas to be of the highest priority."
