John Edward Zeretzke, 61, of Ventura, has admitted to producing child pornography, marking the latest fall from grace for a man who once held a trusted position as a music teacher across Southern California school districts. The guilty plea, entered in federal court in Los Angeles, confirms what investigators have long alleged: Zeretzke exploited a minor across state lines using digital tools to coerce the production of illicit material.
Zeretzke pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography, a federal charge that carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30. The crime occurred between December 2016 and February 2017, when he used a computer and the internet to communicate with a female minor who did not live in California at the time. Through coercion, he compelled the victim to produce sexually explicit images, according to his federal plea agreement.
Before the federal conviction, Zeretzke already faced justice at the state level. He previously pleaded guilty in Orange County Superior Court to six counts of committing lewd or lascivious acts with minors under the age of 14. Those charges stemmed from his abuse of power and access as a contracted music instructor, a role that allowed him repeated contact with vulnerable children.
U.S. District Judge Fernando M. Olguin has scheduled sentencing for December 3, where Zeretzke will learn the length of his federal prison term. Federal prosecutors are recommending an 18-year sentence—the same length as his already-imposed state prison term—with both sentences running concurrently. Despite the overlap, the dual convictions ensure Zeretzke will spend more than a decade behind bars for his crimes.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Special Victims Bureau. Their collaboration exposed a pattern of predatory behavior that stretched beyond one classroom or one community, highlighting the dangers posed by offenders who exploit trusted professional roles to target minors.
This investigation is part of Project Safe Childhood, the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation. Assistant United States Attorney Justin R. Rhoades is prosecuting the federal case, underscoring the federal government’s commitment to holding predators like Zeretzke accountable, especially when technology enables the abuse of children across state lines.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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