Former Teacher Sentenced for Possession of Cartoon Child Porn

Former Teacher Sentenced for Possession of Cartoon Child Porn

Former teacher at Lake Hazel Middle School in Meridian, Idaho, 33-year-old Steven Kutzner, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison for possession of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. After he is going to be released from prison, he will be on supervised release for three years and will have to participate in sex offender treatment. He resigned in 2009 immediately after the search warrant was served at his home.

The investigation began in December 2008, after German Federal Police discovered evidence that Kutzner’s IP address offered a download-able file categorized as child pornography. According to court documents, Kutzner had been transmitting, receiving and downloading sexually explicit images of child erotica for more than eight years.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case.When Homeland Security agents searched Kutzner's computer, they found more than 500 pornographic image files of females, seemingly teenagers. Unfortunately, they could have not been identified, thus, investigators were unable to prove they were minors. Also found in his computer were more than 8,000 image files of child erotica, represented by non-nude or semi-nude photographs and videos of children in sexually suggestive poses. They were not categorized as child pornography, but still could contribute to the sexual fantasies of pedophiles. Kutzner was not charged with child pornography offense because he deleted the relevant images from his computer using wiping programs, prior to execution of the search warrant.

In October 2010 Kutzner pleaded guilty to possession of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children, namely 70 cartoon pornographic images, representing minors engaged in sex acts with adults or animals. Amongst others, the prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's office discovered image files including characters from the famous TV show, "The Simpsons", also engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

For information and tips on how to protect your children online, see Travis Morgan’s book titled “Catch Me If You Know How - Internet Edition” or visit the “Catch Me If You Know How” website at http://www.CatchMeIfYouKnowHow.com