Elementary School Student Teacher Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

Benjamin Lane Walker, age 33, of Sewanee, Tennessee, was arrested by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Knoxville Division, Tullahoma Resident Agency. The arrest occurred this afternoon without incident in Winchester, Tennessee.  Walker, a first grade student teacher at Monteagle Elementary School, was arrested pursuant to a federal warrant issued by the United States District Court in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Walker was charged with two counts of violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2256, Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography.  At his initial appearance today before United States Magistrate William B.M. Carter, Walker was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for May 19, 2009.  Each count Walker faces carry a minimum of 5 years and maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Walker’s arrest is the result of a multi-agency effort including the Winchester Police Department and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.