Andrew Zaheri, Child Pornography, Kentucky 2022

A Morehead man, Andrew Zaheri, 40, pleaded guilty to production of child pornography in federal court in Kentucky.

According to his plea agreement, Zaheri began a sexual relationship with a minor student at the high school where he was employed as a teacher in the summer of 2022. The relationship continued through the school year and included Zaheri engaging in sexual acts with the victim during school hours. Zaheri admitted that, during the course of the relationship, he produced sexually explicit images and videos of the minor victim using his cell phone.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Kentucky State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Zaheri is scheduled to appear for sentencing on May 14 in Ashland, Ky. He faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing its sentence.

The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Zaheri's guilty plea is a significant step towards bringing him to justice for his heinous crimes. The severity of his sentence will depend on various factors, including his prior record, the nature of the offense, and the harm caused to the victim.

As a society, we must prioritize the protection of our children and ensure that those who harm them are held accountable. The prosecution of child pornography cases is crucial in preventing further exploitation and abuse.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edky/pr/former-rowan-county-teacher-pleads-guilty-production-child-pornography