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Press Release

Former Dublin High School Teacher Pleads Guilty to Making Child Porn Via Photos, Videos of Former Students

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Gregory R. Lee, 52, of Columbus, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court today to production of child pornography.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien, Westerville Police Chief Joseph Morbitzer, Dublin Police Chief Heinz von Eckartsberg and other members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force announced the plea entered into before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.

 

According to the Statement of Facts in this case, the parents of a teenage female contacted Dublin Police in May 2017 after discovering information in the teenager’s personal journal regarding sexual activity with Lee, who had been her high school teacher at Dublin Scioto High School.

 

While being interviewed by law enforcement, the victim told authorities that she and Lee engaged in oral sex on numerous occasions in Lee’s classroom and in his vehicle. She said Lee also instructed her to create and exchange nude photographs through her phone.

 

A forensic examination of Lee’s electronic devices uncovered approximately 234 images of the victim, at least 49 of which depicted the minor in various stages of nudity. The victim confirmed that Lee had taken some of the nude pictures of her that were found on his devices.

 

The forensic examination also revealed nude images of another female that was believed to be a former student of Lee’s. The former student confirmed that she took the photographs with her cell phone when she was 17 years old and sent them to Lee.

 

Production of child pornography in this case carries a potential term of imprisonment of 15 to 30 years, as well as at least five years of supervised release. The federal plea agreement takes into account Lee’s sexual contact with the victim, for which an indictment is pending in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, and requires Lee to plead guilty to that indictment as well.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, Dublin Police and Task Force Officers, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Heather A. Hill and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Rausch, Director, Franklin County Special Victim’s Unit, who are representing the United States in this case.

 

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Updated September 14, 2017

Topic
Project Safe Childhood