Former DC school teacher arrested on child pornography charges

A former Washington, D.C., charter-school teacher is behind bars after being arrested by the FBI and charged in connection with soliciting child pornography.

Devonne Keith Brown, 56, is charged with one count of receipt of child pornography after he allegedly paid a Maryland girl, 15, to send him sexual images of herself, Fox News reports.

“Those who prey on minors to solicit the production of (child sexual abuse materials) are morally reprehensible and will be held accountable for their heinous crimes,” said Steven Jensen, assistant director of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to protecting our children and ridding our communities of this grievous scourge.”

The girl told authorities she met a man named “Joseph” at a grocery store near her home in Prince George’s County. The man sent her money for ice cream via Cash App and, after communicating on social media, she sent him nude photos of herself. Brown reportedly also sent her pornographic images of women and asked her to recreate them for him.

A comment on a $15 Cash App payment stated “for snacks? more photos otw,” court documents show.

Brown worked as a physical education teacher and youth athletics coach in the District of Columbia and Maryland, the FBI said. 

Officials at IDEA Public Charter School in Northwest Washington, D.C., where Brown worked until recently, told Fox 5 DC that none of its students appeared to be among his victims. 

Authorities reportedly found additional sexual images and videos sent to Brown by minors, and the FBI issued a release asking for help identifying potential victims. 

“This individual is no longer employed by the school,” the school said, while pledging full cooperation with authorities. “The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority.” 

Brown was held following a court appearance Monday. He had another hearing scheduled for Thursday. 

If convicted on the single count, Brown would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and potential fines of up to $250,000.