Latest news with #UBICAcademy
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Miami Herald
Christian school teacher accused of using AI to make child porn in Florida
A Christian school teacher is accused of using artificial intelligence to make child pornography in Florida. David Robert McKeown also shared child sexual abuse images while connected to the Wi-Fi at United Brethren in Christ Academy in Holly Hill, where he taught sixth grade, state officials wrote June 20 in news releases. 'He spent parts of the school day sending and receiving child sex abuse material and providing other pedophiles with UBIC Academy students' personal information,' Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said in a release. 'What he did is beyond betrayal — it's devastating and sick.' An attorney believed to be representing 47-year-old McKeown didn't immediately respond to McClatchy News' requests for comment on June 27. UBIC Academy in a Facebook post said it was aware of the teacher's arrest. 'We are shocked and deeply grieved by the serious allegations of misconduct against him,' wrote Don Ross, school board chair. 'Our employment relationship with David McKeown has been terminated, and we are cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities.' The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said McKeown was arrested and booked into the Volusia County jail. He has been charged with '19 felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and six felony counts of sexually abusing animals,' according to state officials and online records. The Holly Hill Police Department in a news release said it launched an investigation in early June. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reached out with a tip about an online account, later linked to McKeown, according to state officials. 'Law enforcement believes he utilized artificial intelligence technology to create (child sexual abuse material) with real children, some of whom may have attended UBIC Academy,' the attorney general's office wrote. 'Initial search warrants revealed that McKeown was disseminating, downloading, and communicating with users on Discord — a popular group chat service — during school hours and while connected to the UBIC Academy Wi-Fi.' The messages included 19 photos of child sexual abuse material and 'nine images of himself engaging in sexual acts with the family pet,' according to the attorney general's office. Devices were seized from the school and the teacher's home, and an investigation was ongoing as of June 20, officials said. McClatchy News reached out to state officials and police for more information about the case and is awaiting a response. Anyone who believes their child could have been tied to the case is asked to reach out to Victim Advocate Coordinator Daisy Gonzalez at 386-248-9435. Tips also can be shared with Detective Cpl. Kelsey Palm at 386-492-0415 or kpalm@ Holly Hill is in the Daytona Beach area, a roughly 60-mile drive northeast from Orlando.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Yahoo
Florida middle school teacher allegedly used real student photos to create AI-generated porn: FDLE
HOLLY HILL, Fla. - A middle school teacher in Central Florida was arrested Thursday on 19 charges related to child sex abuse material and animal sexual abuse. He's accused of downloading and sharing child pornography on Discord, including potentially using students' photos to create AI-generated pornography. What we know David McKeown, a sixth-grade teacher at UBIC Academy, was arrested Thursday at his home in Volusia County, both FDLE and Florida AG's Office said. Detectives alleged that McKeown shared and downloaded pornographic images depicting child porn and animal abuse via Discord while at school – and connected to the school's WiFi network, both agencies said. He allegedly shared nearly 30 images. Authorities believe McKeown used AI technology to create these pornographic images, and may have used photos of real children. The investigation was launched on June 2 after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Detectives seized a number of devices from his home in Holly Hill and from the school. He was booked into the Volusia County jail and a judge denied him the possibility of bond. If convicted, he faces up to 315 years in prison, officials said. What they're saying "As a teacher, parents trusted Mr. McKeown to impart knowledge to their children. Instead, he spent parts of the school day sending and receiving child sex abuse material and providing other pedophiles with UBIC Academy students' personal information. "What he did is beyond betrayal—it's devastating and sick. Our Office of Statewide Prosecution will aggressively pursue justice for these children and their parents," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "This arrest is deeply disturbing," said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass in a statement.. "Not only was this individual trafficking in vile material but he was doing it on school grounds, during school hours surrounded by children. At FDLE, we will never allow predators to hide behind screens or school walls. We will track them down, expose them and bring them to justice." What you can do Law enforcement said additional charges are possible and that the investigation is ongoing. Anyone who thinks they may be a victim is asked to contact the Holly Hill Police Department's Victim Advocate Coordinator. The Source Both the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Attorney General's Office announced the arrest on Thursday, June 20. The information comes from the news releases shared by both agencies.
