ROME, GA – RAYMOND WATTS a/k/a “Robin St. Taw,” 55, of Kingston, Georgia, a teacher Mill Creek Middle School in Woodstock, Georgia, was arraigned today after being indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of distribution and possession of child pornography.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said: “Anyone who has daily contact with children and is in an authority position with children must be someone whom parents can trust. These disturbing charges involve a middle school teacher who has close contact with children. Federal investigators and this office took quick action to see that he was charged and away from those children.”

“Identifying and investigating those who victimize children -- especially those who hold positions of public trust -- is one of the most important responsibilities we have,” said Brock Nicholson, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations in Atlanta. “Sexually exploiting children is despicable, and we will continue to go the extra mile to catch those individuals who prey on innocent victims in this manner.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, information in public documents and in open court: During the course of an ongoing child pornography investigation, law enforcement discovered that WATTS might be a possessor of sexually explicit images of children, in particular minor boys. In early 2011, an undercover law enforcement agent made contact with WATTS, which led to in-person meetings between WATTS and an undercover agent. During one of their meetings, WATTS distributed numerous images of child pornography to the agent. WATTS was found to have hundreds of sexually explicit images of children on his home computer. WATTS was charged in a criminal complaint and made an initial appearance and had his detention hearing before United States Magistrate Judge Walter E. Johnson on March 1, 2011. Evidence in that hearing indicated that WATTS was also a swim coach and that he had also cut out photos of students and laminated them on a large bookmark that he carried during his teaching duties. WATTS was detained pending trial following preliminary and detention hearings on March 1, 2011, and remains in custody while the investigation continues.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case was investigated by the Special Agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Assistant United States Attorney Jill E. Steinberg is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact Sally Quillian Yates, United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.