A former San Bernardino middle school teacher was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for distributing child pornography on social media, the U.S. Justice Department said Monday in a statement.
Josue Gamaliel Vidal Quintanilla, a 31-year-old Fontana resident, taught math at Shandin Hills Middle School before authorities served a search warrant at his home and arrested him in September 2020, officials said in the release.
An estimated 1,500 images and 724 videos of child pornography were discovered by authorities from Quintanilla’s online accounts and digital devices.
The Department of Justice stated that Snapchat and Kik social media sites notified law enforcement that a user with an internet protocol address assigned to Quintanilla’s residence had uploaded content that was suspected to be sexually explicit and involve children.
According to an affidavit filed by a Department of Homeland Security agent, Quintanilla told the agent during an interview he used multiple online accounts to send, receive and possess child pornography.
He also stated he would use those accounts to communicate and engage in sexually explicit acts with minors over the video, which he recorded using a screen recording software, the court document stated.
“This conduct is abhorrent in and of itself, but it is especially disturbing and unacceptable considering the defendant’s role in the community as a teacher,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum.
