Teacher allegedly sexually abused animals and used students’ photos and AI to share child abuse material

HOLLY HILL, Fla. (TCN) — A 47-year-old teacher is in custody after allegedly sharing child and animal sexual abuse material using the school’s Wi-Fi.

According to a news release from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, a detective received a tip on June 2 from the National Center for Missing and Endangered Children regarding someone sharing child sex abuse material with a Discord account. Investigators reportedly identified David McKeown as the owner of the account.

Authorities allege McKeown “shared 19 files depicting child sexual abuse along with six other files depicting McKeown sexually abusing animals.”

According to law enforcement officials, McKeown was a middle school teacher at United Brethren in Christ Academy, and he is accused of downloading and communicating “with other Discord users during school hours while connected to the school’s Wi-Fi network.”

Authorities served a search warrant at McKeown’s home on June 20 and seized multiple electronic devices. According to the department of law enforcement, investigators discovered multiple messages between McKeown and other online users that showed he was sharing personal information and photos of possible students at his school, as well as AI-generated child sexual abuse material. Officials also reportedly seized electronic devices from United Brethren in Christ Academy. 

The department of law enforcement, with assistance from Holly Hill Police, arrested McKeown on 19 felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and six felony counts of sexually abusing animals. He remains held in the Volusia County Jail.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass called the arrest “deeply disturbing,” adding, “Not only was this individual trafficking in vile material, but he was doing it on school grounds during school hours surrounded by children. At FDLE, we will never allow predators to hide behind screens or school walls. We will track them down, expose them, and bring them to justice.”
  
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