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Ex-Borden teacher faces child porn charges [The Evening News and the Tribune, Jeffersonville, Ind. :: ]
[July 24, 2014]

Ex-Borden teacher faces child porn charges [The Evening News and the Tribune, Jeffersonville, Ind. :: ]


(Evening News and The Tribune, The (Jeffersonville, IN) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 24--CLARK COUNTY -- A Pekin man arrested last week for charges related to child pornography was a high school math teacher and a private school swim team coach.



Isaac William Schmitt, 25, who taught at William W. Borden Middle/High School, was arrested early last week by the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. According to a release from ISP, a tip was relayed to them from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Officers from the Sellersburg ISP post spoke to Schmitt at the school last week before conducting an initial examination of Schmitt's home computer. After that, he was taken into custody.


Monty Schneider, superintendent of West Clark Community Schools, said Schmitt was a second year teacher at Borden and a Student Council sponsor for the junior high school. He said his administration believes Schmitt's viewing and uploading of child pornography was limited to his home.

"We know what he's been charged with, but I'm not personally aware that he looked on any of our school computers," Schneider said. "I asked our technology department to check it out and I'm not aware of anything they've found. Whether the police have or not, I don't know." Schneider said Schmitt submitted a resignation from his job for "personal reasons," which the district's board of trustees will vote upon at its Thursday, July 31, special meeting.

Schmitt also was the coach for a co-ed swim team at Our Lady of Providence Junior/Senior High School in Clarksville.

Christa Hoyland, director of communication and alumni relations at Providence, said since the case is still an active investigation, they decline to comment.

Calls to ISP public information officer, Sgt. Jerry Goodin were not immediately returned.

Schneider said he can't recall anything from Schmitt's background check that stood out.

A search of state criminal records only shows the current charges of child exploitation and possession of child pornography, level five and six felonies, respectively. A level five felony carries a conviction term between one and six years in prison with a fine up to $10,000, and a level six felony carries a conviction term between six months and two years with up to a $10,000 fine.

Schmitt's jury trial is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2015. He's incarcerated at the Washington County Jail.

Schneider said it's unfortunate that someone working with children faces these charges, but schools do everything they can to keep their students safe.

"We were very concerned and as far as we know, nothing unusual took place at school," Schneider said. "It still causes us great concern because parents entrust us with the safety of their children while we've got them and we take that very seriously." ___ (c)2014 The Evening News and The Tribune (Jeffersonville, Ind.) Visit The Evening News and The Tribune (Jeffersonville, Ind.) at newsandtribune.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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