COACH

Ex-Substitute Teacher Facing Additional Child Pornography Charges

A former substitute teacher and basketball coach in Prince George's County is facing additional charges in a child pornography case, and police believe there may be additional victims. 

Christopher Speights has been indicted on three counts of possession of child pornography with intent to distribute and six counts of possession of child pornography in Prince George's County. 

Speights was previously indicted in July by a federal jury on three counts of production and attempted production of child pornography.

Speights worked at Bradbury Height Elementary School as a substitute teacher and as a coach for Prince George's County Public Schools for nine years. He was also a basketball coach for South County Sports Academy.

Prosecutors say dozens of potential victims have been identified. Speights allegedly directed the victims to perform certain acts, prosecutors said during a news conference Friday.

Prosecutors say Speights lured students to his home or victimized them during basketball road trips.

"We've come to learn that he invited children to his home, and he stayed with them there," Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said. 

Due to Speights' involvement with a traveling basketball team, investigators believe he may have had victims outside the county as well. 

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children referred a tip about child pornography on a Dropbox account to state police Dec. 13, 2016.

Investigators tracked the Dropbox account, which had more than 100 images and videos of children engaged in sexual conduct with each other and with adults, to Speights’ Capitol Heights home, police said.

Investigators and Homeland Security agents executed a search warrant at his home in April and found child pornography on Speights’ cellphone, laptop and iPad, police said. 

Speights' state case is set for trial Nov. 13., but additional charges involving sex acts with minors are pending, prosecutors say. 

Parents whose children may have had contact with Speights are asked to call 1-800-637-5437. 

"I encourage any kid that was involved in our program or any program to call the hotline," South County Sports Academy President Luther Henry said.

Henry said his program did a background check on Speights but found nothing.

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