SAN JOSE — A 43-year-old staff member at Valley Christian Schools in San Jose was arrested on Thursday after he paid students for sexually explicit photos and videos, according to police.
Police said in a news release Friday that Todd Baldwin, a San Jose resident, was accused of possessing explicit digital media of minors on Wednesday. On Thursday, a search warrant was served at his office and home. Baldwin was then arrested on suspicion of felony possession and distribution of child sexual material.
According to a note sent to parents, Valley Christian Schools officials said Baldwin was placed on administrative leave after police notified administrators of the investigation. Police added in their statement that the school was fully cooperating with the investigation.
A statement from the private school read in part: “We at Valley Christian Schools are deeply disturbed by the actions outlined in these charges against a member of our facilities department, which is antithetical to our Christian faith, values, and standards. … We encourage anyone with information relating to this matter to contact the San Jose Police Department. As this is an ongoing criminal proceeding, we will have no further comment at this time.”
Valley Christian Schools offers K-12 education at an elementary school campus and a middle and high school located on the same campus. Authorities did not specify the ages of the alleged victims.
Source: www.mercurynews.com