CINCINNATI, OH - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested an Ohio elementary school physical education teacher on multiple child sex abuse charges after authorities found him with a naked prepubescent girl in a hotel room.
According to the Post Millennial, the suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mark Altherr, has been arrested on felony child pornography and distribution charges of victims between the ages of five and 12. Court documents state that he has been accused of making a significant number of post depicting minor victims of sexual exploitation on an online website launched in 2019 that describes itself as a "child pornography community."
The FBI investigation shows that Altherr has been an active member of the website since 2021 and has made at least 262 posts, many of which depicted child pornography from December 2023 through July 2024.
He allegedly responded to a threat titled, "3 to 5-year-old cuties only," which contained nude images of children. He also reportedly responded to a threat that featured children engaging in sexual activities with an adult male. The FBI also found that Altherr allegedly described his own sexual abuse of children in posts on the website, which involved a "four-year-old I was looking after," and "eight-year-old who had a crush on me," and a "10-year-old neighbor."
During the investigation, the FBI determined that Altherr was a physical education teacher at Delshire Elementary School and because of his position of authority with children, agents determined it was "necessary" to find him. FBI agents were dispatched to his home in Cincinnati on Friday, July 26th, but he was not there.
Through a cell phone ping, agents were able to locate his vehicle and discovered he was in a public location in Columbus, Ohio. FBI agents were then dispatched to that location. Court documents state that at "approximately 7:54 p.m. on July 26, 2024, the Agent observed an individual fitting the description of Altherr enter the vehicle with a minor female." The agents then watched him drive himself and the minor child to a hotel in the Columbus area.
FBI agents determined that the child was in "imminent danger" after looking at images Altherr had posted to the website and so they executed a probable cause arrest on the gym teacher. Upon entering the hotel room, agents discovered a minor girl, completely nude. Altherr was immediately taken into custody and is currently being geld in the Butler County Jail on an FBI retainer.
FBI agents executed a search warrant of his home and found electronic devices that had images and videos depicting child sex abuse. In a statement, Oak Hills School District said that Altherr has been placed on administrative leave and is "prohibited from being on school grounds or having any contact with students or staff." The school intends to initiate termination proceedings saying, "The Oak Hills Local School District is working closely with and fully cooperating with the FBI and law enforcement agents regarding the ongoing investigation. When more information becomes available, and legally permissible, we will share it with families and the community."
Altherr has been charged with one count of felony distribution of child pornography and one count of felony possession of child pornography. If convicted on those charges, he faces up to 40 years in prison.
According to the Post Millennial, the suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mark Altherr, has been arrested on felony child pornography and distribution charges of victims between the ages of five and 12. Court documents state that he has been accused of making a significant number of post depicting minor victims of sexual exploitation on an online website launched in 2019 that describes itself as a "child pornography community."
The FBI investigation shows that Altherr has been an active member of the website since 2021 and has made at least 262 posts, many of which depicted child pornography from December 2023 through July 2024.
He allegedly responded to a threat titled, "3 to 5-year-old cuties only," which contained nude images of children. He also reportedly responded to a threat that featured children engaging in sexual activities with an adult male. The FBI also found that Altherr allegedly described his own sexual abuse of children in posts on the website, which involved a "four-year-old I was looking after," and "eight-year-old who had a crush on me," and a "10-year-old neighbor."
During the investigation, the FBI determined that Altherr was a physical education teacher at Delshire Elementary School and because of his position of authority with children, agents determined it was "necessary" to find him. FBI agents were dispatched to his home in Cincinnati on Friday, July 26th, but he was not there.
Through a cell phone ping, agents were able to locate his vehicle and discovered he was in a public location in Columbus, Ohio. FBI agents were then dispatched to that location. Court documents state that at "approximately 7:54 p.m. on July 26, 2024, the Agent observed an individual fitting the description of Altherr enter the vehicle with a minor female." The agents then watched him drive himself and the minor child to a hotel in the Columbus area.
FBI agents determined that the child was in "imminent danger" after looking at images Altherr had posted to the website and so they executed a probable cause arrest on the gym teacher. Upon entering the hotel room, agents discovered a minor girl, completely nude. Altherr was immediately taken into custody and is currently being geld in the Butler County Jail on an FBI retainer.
FBI agents executed a search warrant of his home and found electronic devices that had images and videos depicting child sex abuse. In a statement, Oak Hills School District said that Altherr has been placed on administrative leave and is "prohibited from being on school grounds or having any contact with students or staff." The school intends to initiate termination proceedings saying, "The Oak Hills Local School District is working closely with and fully cooperating with the FBI and law enforcement agents regarding the ongoing investigation. When more information becomes available, and legally permissible, we will share it with families and the community."
Altherr has been charged with one count of felony distribution of child pornography and one count of felony possession of child pornography. If convicted on those charges, he faces up to 40 years in prison.
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