Former Teacher Arrested on Federal Child Pornography Charges

Keith L. Bennett, Special Agent in Charge (SAC), of the Cincinnati Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Erik Niehaus, Chief of Police, West Chester Police Department; and Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney, Southern District of Ohio, announce that Ryan Brant Fahrenkamp, age 42 of Mason, Ohio, was arrested without incident this morning by FBI agents, West Chester Police Officers and Mason Police Officers at his home. Fahrenkamp has been charged in a federal complaint filed at the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, Cincinnati, with violations of Title 18, U.S. Code Sections 2252(a)(1); 2252(a)(2) and 2252(a)(4)(B) (Transportation, Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography). Conviction of either of the first two charges carries a mandatory minimum five years’ imprisonment. Conviction of all three counts carries a maximum punishment of 20 years’ imprisonment. Fahrenkamp is a former teacher at the Endeavor Elementary School, West Chester.

The complaint charging Fahrenkamp alleges that in May 2010 Lakota school officials contacted the West Chester Police Department after receiving a complaint from a parent that Fahrenkamp was sending text messages to a student. An initial review of Fahrenkamp’s school-issued laptop computer revealed that it had been used to access pornographic websites. In addition the laptop contained images of young males without their shirts on. Some of these individuals were identified as former Endeavor students. On May 26, 2010 West Chester Police Department officers executed a state search warrant at a hotel room where Fahrenkamp was staying. Officers seized a camera during the execution of that warrant. A forensic review of the school laptop revealed a video file which depicted a naked pre-pubescent male and appeared to have been downloaded in 2008. A forensic review of the camera revealed photographs of a naked pubescent male. The photographs on the camera also appear to have been taken in 2008.

Fahrenkamp will receive an Initial Appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge today in Cincinnati Federal Court. During the Initial Appearance the Magistrate will determine if Fahrenkamp will remain in custody pending further proceedings.

Officials at the Lakota Schools and Endeavor Elementary have been notified of this morning’s arrest.

The media is requested to contact FBI Cincinnati with any questions concerning the arrest.

SAC Bennett and Chief Niehaus thanked the Mason Police Department for their assistance in Monday morning’s arrest.

The public is reminded that criminal complaints contain only allegations of criminal misconduct and that a defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.