FBI investigates teacher for child pornography

An FBI task force in Longview is investigating charges of child pornography against a former Rusk High School teacher.

The Cherokeean Herald learned Monday that the incident is being handed over to U.S. Eastern District Attorney John L. Ratcliffe, who has held the post since May.

Rusk ISD Superintendent Dr. Jim Largent confirmed that a long-time teacher resigned last week.

"There have been no complaints from anyone associated with Rusk ISD. As far as I know, no charges have been filed and no one has been arrested," Dr. Largent said.

No charges have been filed with the Rusk Police Department or with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department.

Two other teachers in Cherokee County have been investigated in less than a year.

In June, a 23-year-old Jacksonville man who formerly worked as a youth minister at Tyler Street Baptist Church and as a music instructor at Jacksonville Christian Acad- emy, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for possession of more than 600 images of child pornography on his computer.

Josh Allen's conviction carried a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The case against Mr. Allen was part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.

Another Rusk teacher, Brian Edward Basse, 34, was indicted by a Cherokee County grand jury in March and charged with two second degree felonies, indecency with a child and improper relationship between an educator and student.

He was a teacher in Rusk at the time of his arrest.