Former Local Teacher Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

HOUSTON – A 51-year-old Houston man has been convicted of receipt and possession of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez.

The investigation into Jason Dion Johnson began Dec. 6, 2015, as the FBI sought to identify persons using peer-to-peer software to traffic in child pornography. Agents soon discovered a specific computer as offering to participate in the distribution of child pornography movies. Johnson was identified as the person linked to that computer.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant May 6, 2016, at Johnson’s Houston residence, at which time investigators found a number of videos and images of prepubescent girls being sexually exploited. Additionally, agents allegedly found several unmarked VHS tapes which revealed the presence of what appeared to be a hidden camera video from a changing area within a school. On these tapes, there are young female students who are observed to be entering the camera’s field of view and removing their clothing while in the process of changing into a uniform.

At the time of the investigation, Johnson was employed as a 7^th grade Social Studies teacher at Beechnut Academy in Houston. However, authorities do not believe the footage was taken at that school.

U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted the plea and has set sentencing for July 6, 2017. At that time, Johnson faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years imprisonment for the receipt of child pornography as well as up to 10 years for possession of child pornography.

This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ann Leo, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."