Crime & Safety
New Details in PAMS Teacher Child Porn Case
"A teacher who is accessing child pornography is a recipe for disaster," said Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan
The Chester County District Attorney's office is releasing more details in the child porn case against a Phoenixville Area Middle School Special Education and Math teacher.
Kenneth Ford Hamilton Jr.,58, of the 800 block of Kimberton Road in Phoenixville, was arrested Sunday, according to State Police and the Chester County District Attorney. He is being held in Chester County Prison on $250,000 bail.
According to the District Attorney's office, Hamilton's arrest follows a Pennsylvania State Police investigation into child pornography being shared on the internet. That investigation led State Police investigators to an IP address linked to Hamilton.
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Police executed a search warrant at Hamilton's home on the day before Thanksgiving. According to an affidavit of probably cause filed in the case, investigators found multiple images and video of child pornography, including images of girls as young as five engaging in sex acts with adults.
"Viewing child pornography often is one of the early steps along the path to sexually abusing children. Gaining regular access to kids is a second step. A teacher who is accessing child pornography is a recipe for disaster," Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said in a news release.Hamilton was arrested on Sunday and faces 13 felony counts including possession and distribution of child porn. He is due to appear Thursday in Phoenixville District Court for a preliminary hearing.
Hamilton's arrest sent shockwaves through the PAMS community. The school district sent a letter to the news media and parents Monday detailing what district officials knew so far in the case.
Last month, the school's former principal Troy Czukoski, 43, of Exton, was sentenced to two years in prison, 10 years of supervised release and the payment of fines for possessing more than 150, but less than 300, images of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
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