Former Acadiana High School Teacher Pleads Guilty to Enticing a Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity

LAFAYETTE, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that former Acadiana High School teacher Stephen McKay Hurst pleaded guilty today to use of a facility in interstate commerce to cause a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Hurst, 38, of Lafayette, La., was indicted in April 2010, on six counts of production of child pornography, attempted production of child pornography, use of a facility in interstate commerce to cause a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, possession of child pornography, and obstruction of justice. According to court documents filed today, Hurst acknowledged that beginning in 2005 through March of 2010, he offered male students under the age of 18 the opportunity to use his residence so that they could engage in sexual activities with female students under the age of 16. The defendant would text the students via his cell phone and offer his apartment for them to meet. On occasion, Hurst would hide a video camera in the room and videotape the minors engaging in sexual activity.

At sentencing, Hurst faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years, a maximum term of life imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, or both, and a term of supervised release of not less than five years and up to life. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Luke Walker.