SPOKANE, Wash. – A federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Washington indicted a former Riverside Elementary employee on Child pornography charges.
On May 22, a federal grand jury for Eastern Washington returned a three-count indictment charging 28, with one count of Production of Child Pornography, one count of Distribution of Child Pornography and one count of Receipt of Child Pornography.
The Spokane Attorney’s Office says that if convicted, , 20 years in prison for the count of Distribution of Child Pornography, and 20 years in prison for the count of Receipt of Child Pornography. Shuler would also have to register as a sex offender.
According to a complaint filed on , the FBI and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said they contacted Shuler, who worked at Riverside Elementary School, about a Snapchat video that depicted minors engaged in sexual conduct. Shuler allegedly recognized the footage and admitted he contacted the minors online and offered explicit images in exchange for their participation in the video.
Investigators said Shuler told them he enjoyed looking at sexually explicit images of children as young as ten. Shuler also allegedly admitted to conversing with more than two dozen minors regarding sexual content, including sharing and trading sexually explicit pictures and videos.
Shuler allegedly had sexual contact with two teens at two separate times. According to the complaint, in both cases, Shuler allegedly recorded the sex acts and distributed the videos online. Investigators said Shuler reportedly admitted he made multiple attempts to solicit other youth to meet him and engage in sex acts.
“My office and our law enforcement partners stand ready to respond with thorough investigations, aggressive prosecutions, and determined advocacy in pursuing those who seek to abuse children, whether it occurs behind a keyboard or closed doors,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref.
