A Prince George’s County Public Schools substitute teacher and basketball coach uploaded pictures and videos of child pornography online, according to Maryland State Police.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children referred a tip about child pornography on a Dropbox account to state police Dec. 13.
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 34-year-old Christopher H. Speights’ Capitol Heights home, police said.
Investigators and Homeland Security agents executed a search warrant at his home Thursday morning and found child pornography on Speights’ cellphone, laptop and iPad, police said.
Speights told investigators he worked as a substitute teacher and basketball coach at Bradbury Elementary School in Capitol Heights, police said. He was with the school district for nine years.
The state's attorney's office said there is no reason to believe any children at the school were harmed.
He also coached basketball at South County Sports Academy, which suspended him. Academy President Luther Henry said Speights was with that organization since it started. He said the goal of the academy is to keep children safe.
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"Our job is to keep them off the streets, out of trouble, and so you feel betrayed almost," Henry said. "This is some hurt for me, because he's a friend. I mean, you know somebody for 10 years, and been in the program with you, it's a friend, in a sense. And to see this happen is very disappointing for me."
He is charged with three counts of distribution of child pornography and six counts of possession of child pornography, police said. More charges are pending.
A judge denied Speights' request for bond Friday.
PGCPS is sending a letter home to parents about the arrest and released the following statement:
“Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) is aware that substitute teacher Christopher Speights has been arrested. We will cooperate fully with law enforcement in its investigation. Due to the nature of the claims, Christopher Speights will no longer serve the school district.
“Any behavior that brings harm to a child will not be tolerated in any way in PGCPS. Over the past year, we have made significant changes to increase student safety and remain committed to ensuring a quality education in a safe environment for all students.”
