David M. Kruchten, Child Pornography Production, Wisconsin 2024

Madison High School Teacher Charged with Child Pornography

A shocking indictment has been unsealed against David M. Kruchten, a 37-year-old Cottage Grove resident and teacher at Madison East High School, for attempting to produce child pornography.

The indictment, returned yesterday by a federal grand jury in Madison, charges Kruchten with seven counts of attempting to use a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the conduct.

According to the indictment, Kruchten allegedly attempted to produce the child pornography in Wisconsin using hidden recording devices on October 27, 2019, and on January 20, 2019.

Kruchten was arrested this morning at his home and will make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Madison today.

“My office is committed to vigorously investigating those who target children and prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Scott C. Blader.

“This indictment alleges criminal conduct that is an unconscionable betrayal of trust,” said Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul. “Thank you to everyone whose hard work resulted in today’s arrest. We will continue working to ensure that there is full accountability for the crimes alleged in this case.”

If convicted, Kruchten faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on each count. The investigation was led by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Cottage Grove Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman is handling the prosecution.

You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwi/pr/madison-high-school-teacher-charged-attempting-produce-child-pornography