Tucson middle school teacher arrested in connection with child sexual abuse material case

PHOENIX — A Tucson middle school teacher was arrested Thursday for allegedly uploading child sexual abuse material, authorities said.

The Tucson Police Department identified 48-year-old Timothy James Sonier as the man taken into custody.

Sonier was booked into the Pima County Adult Detention Complex on ten counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

What led to the Tucson middle school teacher being arrested?

In December 2025, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported an individual who uploaded suspected child sexual abuse material to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, police said.

While investigating, detectives determined that the suspect was located in the Tucson area and transferred the case to Tucson police’s Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit (HEaT).

Working in collaboration with the department’s Forensic Electronic Media Unit (FEMU) and Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), detectives identified Sonier as the suspect.

Authorities learned that Sonier worked as a teacher at Tucson Unified School District’s Dodge Traditional Magnet School as well as an athletic coach at Salpointe Catholic High School and notified both institutions about the investigation.

On Thursday, investigators with assistance from HSI served search warrants at Sonier’s house and Dodge Traditional Magnet School, which is where detectives made contact with the teacher.

During the searches, several electronic devices were found and a forensic review of them resulted in the charges against Sonier, police said.

According to investigators, no known local victims have been identified in association with the case.

Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to call 88-CRIME (27463) and can remain anonymous.

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