Independence, Missouri Elementary Substitute Teacher Charged with Child Pornography Offenses

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An elementary school substitute teacher for the Independence, Mo. School District has been charged by criminal complaint with distributing and possessing child pornography.

Caleb J. Eyde, 21, appeared in federal court today on a five-count criminal complaint.

According to court documents, multiple cyber tips reports were made after Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) was uploaded to Discord, a group communication platform. The results of the investigation led local law enforcement and federal agents to Eyde. Investigators believe Discord records indicate Eyde was distributing, trading, and purchasing CSAM from other users. A forensic examination of Eyde's electronic devices uncovered images and videos depicting CSAM saved to Eyde's devices.

The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Collins. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Child Exploitation Task Force and the Independence, Missouri Police Department.

For more information about online safety for kids please visit http://www.fbi.gov/onlinesafety. To report a tip visit, https://tips.fbi.gov/home.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."