Covina Teacher Pleads Not Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

An eighth-grade teacher who allegedly met an undercover agent in his Covina classroom so they could look at child pornography together pleaded not guilty today to multiple federal charges.

John David Boyle, 49, of Glendora, was indicted July 2 on a half-dozen counts, including enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity over the Internet, leading to the molestation of a 14-year-old boy.

The Royal Oak Middle School teacher was also charged with advertising child pornography on the Internet and distribution, receipt, attempted receipt and possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"Not guilty,'' Boyle responded when questioned by U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Wilner, who set a tentative trial date of Aug. 27.

Boyle was ordered to remain in custody pending trial during a previous hearing in Los Angeles federal court. The judge at that hearing said prosecutors had presented "likely evidence of actual contact with at least one minor.'' Defense attorney Leonard Levine said outside court today that although he had not yet seen the evidence against his client, the charges suggest nothing more than Internet fantasy play.

"We'll know more when we've seen everything,'' Levine said. ``But this has been a well-respected teacher for 27 years. It's come as a shock to everyone.''
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Trutanich previously alleged that text messages from Boyle's cell phone show conversations between the teacher and at least one schoolboy, and between the teacher and the undercover agent in which he apparently brags about recent sexual contact with a child.

In a text apparently to that boy, Boyle -- who is said to have used the online alias "JuniorHighCoach'' -- asks him to "cut school'' and meet him for another date, but the boy declined, the prosecutor alleged.

Trutanich alleged that in a later message to the undercover agent, Boyle was referring to the same child when he texted that he "hooked up with a boy six weeks ago.''

The prosecutor said that in another text conversation with the undercover agent, Boyle allegedly discussed a different student as "a boy I really like'' who is ``so cute,'' but one with whom he had not had sexual
contact.

The undercover agent texted back: "I'm sure you will bring him along just right,'' which Trutanich said was a reference to the well-known "grooming'' behavior of child predators.

Boyle allegedly answered: "I'm trying.''

Anthony Solis, who represented Boyle at the bond hearing, said last month that the texts were "innocuous. This is not some pedophile grooming a
potential target for a sexual assault.''

Prosecutors contend that during the course of the investigation, Boyle engaged in online chats with the undercover operative in the belief that the agent shared his sexual interest in young boys.

According to a federal affidavit, Boyle set up an in-person meeting with the undercover agent in his classroom at the school last month, believing the purpose of the meeting was to engage in sexual activity while watching child pornography together.

When the undercover agent arrived and presented Boyle with child pornography, he allegedly took possession of it. At that time, other agents entered the classroom to interview Boyle.

While Boyle was not arrested at that time, he made statements to investigators and allowed them to take over several of his online accounts, according to prosecutors.

Agents looking into the account discovered that Boyle had used the Internet to distribute child pornography, the complaint alleges.

Agents were also able to access Boyle's Skype account, where they found evidence that he may have had sexual contact with minors, prosecutors contend.

Boyle faces up to life in prison if convicted, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

- City News Service