Austin Teacher Caught with “Depraved” Child Sexual Assault Images
October 29, 2009Stephen Wayne Sudduth, 34, an elementary school teacher living in Sealy, Texas, was indicted on state child sexual assault possession and promotion charges. Sudduth was employed at Nottingham Country Elementary School in the Katy Independent School District as a kindergarten teacher from 2000 to 2006, state Attorney General Greg Abbott said to the Austin Statesman. He called the case one of the most “disturbing, depraved and horrendous kinds of crimes imaginable.” Abbott also said what was so alarming about the case is that the former teacher was going to school daily and was in contact with children of the same age as those in the images and videos allegedly seized by investigators.
Sudduth was hired by the Tobias Elementary School in Kyle, Texas, in June, and resigned in July. Officials there said he had not had any contact with children at the new school. They alsoo said, “We rely on criminal background checks when hiring people. He had no criminal record.”
Unfortunately, since 1% or even less of child molesters are ever convicted of thier crimes, background checks rarely catch them. Parents need to be aware that there is very little schools can do to prevent predators from finding employment with them.
While without a doubt most teachers care about children and want to genuinely help them, teaching is fertile land for child predators seeking power over children and legitimage excuses to have contact with them. Many parents implicitly trust teachers, coaches, clergy and others with whom their children interact and look up to.
It’s important that parents take the time to speak to their children about the fact that 96% (DOJ) of child molesters are trusted people. There is no profile of a child sex predator, no way to tell who may be hurting our children in this way. In fact, according to police and character witness testimony, many of these predators are the most helpful, solicitous, kindest and nicest adults around, and use those cultivated and calculated traits to gain access to children and convince everyone around them that they could not be doing what they are doing.
Under Texas law, possession of child pornography is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,0000. Promotion of child pornography is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
