Teacher Arrested After Child Porn Found

Wed., June 7, 2000

From Staff

An elementary school teacher has been charged with six counts of possession of child pornography. Prosecutors say his estranged wife found pornographic files on his home computer.

Scott Freshman, 41, who teaches fourth and fifth-graders at Lincoln Elementary School here, was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail at the Skagit County Jail.

Freshman was arrested Monday evening at his home after his wife, who is filing for a divorce, found the pornographic material, according to court documents.

The material consisted of photos downloaded from the Internet of girls estimated to be between the ages of 11 and 16, Skagit County Prosecutor Tom Verge said.

None of Freshman’s students was involved, nor was any pornography found on computers Freshman used at school, Verge said.

Freshman has been charged with six counts of “possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.” Conviction on each count carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, but the standard sentencing range for each count is zero to 12 months.

No other teachers were under investigation, Verge said.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.