Goodyear charter school teacher arrested on 2 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor

A Goodyear charter school teacher was arrested Tuesday after police said he sought out and posted child sexual abuse material online.

Samuel Durham Cooper, 39, admitted to seeking out and posting child sexual abuse after he was taken into custody, according to the Goodyear Police Department.

His bond was set at $200,000 after he was booked on two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to Maricopa County jail records.

Cooper has been fired from his job at Trivium Preparatory Academy. The charter school is part of Great Hearts Academies, which released the following statement:

Yesterday we were notified of the arrest and allegations involving a teacher, and we are fully cooperating with the Goodyear Police Department as they conduct their investigation. 

In accordance with our policy and Arizona law, the individual’s employment has been terminated.

As this is an active investigation, we ask that any further questions be directed to local law enforcement.

Why was Goodyear charter school teacher arrested?

The investigation began after police received a tip from the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. An online platform had notified the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which then sent the tip to the task force.

Detectives obtained search warrants and used investigative techniques to identify Cooper as a user believed to have uploaded and shared a file of a child being sexually exploited.

Police executed a search warrant at his home near Estrella Parkway and Van Buren Street on Tuesday.

Detectives seized several electronic devices for forensic examination, and those examinations are still ongoing.

Police confirmed they are coordinating with Trivium Preparatory Academy officials as the investigation continues.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Goodyear Police Department at 623-932-1220 or submit anonymous tips through Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (948-6377) or, for Spanish speakers, 480-TESTIGO (837-8446).

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