Mark Bass, Child Pornography, North Carolina 2023

Ex-Teacher Guilty of Child Pornography

A former school teacher in North Carolina has pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography, sparking outrage in the community. William Edwardson, Jr., a 56-year-old man from Jacksonville, admitted to downloading and possessing explicit images of minors.

According to investigators, Edwardson, who was a teacher and soccer coach at Trexler Middle School in Richlands, North Carolina, was identified as the owner of an IP address that was downloading and sharing child pornography via the peer-to-peer network, Shareaza. When questioned, Edwardson confessed to downloading visual depictions of minor children engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

The investigation was conducted by the NC State Bureau of Investigation, with Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes representing the government. This case was accepted for federal prosecution as part of Project Safe Childhood, a program aimed at reducing child exploitation.

Edwardson’s guilty plea comes as a shock to the community, where he was once a respected educator. The case highlights the importance of vigilance in protecting children from exploitation and abuse.

As part of his plea deal, Edwardson faces severe consequences for his actions. While the specifics of his sentence have not been disclosed, it is clear that his career as a teacher has been irreparably damaged. His case serves as a reminder that those in positions of trust can also be perpetrators of heinous crimes.

The guilty plea of William Edwardson, Jr. is a stark reminder that child exploitation knows no boundaries, and those who commit such crimes will be brought to justice. As a community, we must remain vigilant and work together to prevent such atrocities from occurring in the future.

For more information on this case and others like it, visit the U. S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.

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