8/9/10 – Former Teacher Sentenced for Distributing Child Pornography

The Miami Valley RCFL (MVRCFL) assisted the FBI Columbus Cybercrimes Task Force in the investigation of Michael Highman, 43, a former teacher and coach. One of the MVRCFL's major contributions to the investigation involved the monumental task of counting 200,000 images found in Highman's possession. Members of the FBI's Columbus Cybercrimes Task Force identified Highman as a user of a peer-to-peer file-sharing program in June 2009. A search warrant was issued for Highman's home on 10/15/09, where investigators found hidden computer storage devices, including one hard drive concealed in the basement ceiling. Highman was promptly arrested, and was a middle school teacher and boy's basketball coach at the time. He pleaded guilty on December 17, 2009 to one count of distribution of child pornography. On August 4, 2010, Highman received a 136 month jail sentence for using an Internet site to share more than 200,000 images and movies of prepubescent teenage boys engaged in sexual acts. U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley also fined him $5,000, ordered him to serve 10 years of supervised release after his prison time, and to register as a sex offender anywhere he lives, works, or attends school. Click here to read the FBI's press release on Highman's sentencing.

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