Arrested La Sierra Academy Counselor Secretly Filmed Boys’ Restroom
7 March 2020 | Matthew Johnson, 30, a counselor at La Sierra Academy, was fired from the Adventist school in Southern California last Wednesday when he was arrested for the alleged possession of images of minors in sex acts as well as the sale of obscene material to minors.
In addition to the alleged possession of pornographic material, Johnson secretly set up a video recording device in a La Sierra Academy boys’ restroom to film students.
Authorities said Johnson was in possession of over 600 images of child pornography. A number of devices were seized from his home on March 4 relating to the download and distribution of child pornography, much of it depicting prepubescent boys.
Riverside police spokesman Officer Ryan Railsback said law enforcement was confident the filming of La Sierra students was done without their knowledge and the material had not been shared by Johnson. Nobody has yet been identified in the videos.
In an email to parents, the school said it was “shocked, horrified and devastated” by the developments and it was cooperating fully with authorities.
La Sierra Academy has about 550 students and offers grades K-12. The Adventist institution is located in Riverside, California.