News

Actions

West Jordan teacher arrested for child porn, admits fantasizing about students

Posted at 12:55 PM, Nov 06, 2015
and last updated 2015-11-06 20:18:25-05

WEST JORDAN, Utah - A West Jordan teacher has been arrested on child porn charges after authorities found videos on his computer.Patterson, Jeffrey T. SO# 389274 mug

Officials with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force said Jeffrey Thomas Patterson, 7th grade science teacher at West Hills Middle School, had at least two videos that contained child pornography of young boys and had distributed them through a peer-to-peer software program.

"ICAC has assured us that the safety of the school and students has not been compromised," West Jordan School District spokeswoman Sandy Riesgraf said.

West Jordan School District officials said when they learned of his arrest, Patterson was immediately suspended.

He has also been suspended from all school events and banned from school property during the pending investigation.

Authorities went to Patterson's West Jordan home Wednesday evening where they said he admitted to downloading child porn.

Patterson also told authorities, in the past three years, he has had sexual thoughts about 50 to 60 of his 7th grade students in the West Jordan School District.

Officers said he also admitted to pleasuring himself in his classroom during a lunch break.

Jeff Patterson - Courtesy: West Hills Middle School

Jeff Patterson - Courtesy: West Hills Middle School

He admitted thinking about placing hidden cameras above the stalls in the boys' restroom at the school so he could watch the boys using the bathroom.

Patterson told authorities he had 20 to 25 videos containing child porn on his external hard drive.

Authorities seized several computers from his home for further investigation.

Patterson is facing two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and more charges could be added through the course of the investigation.

Officials said because of Patterson's regular contact with school-aged children and the possible risks to them, his bail has been set at $500,000.