Torrance Music Teacher Accused of Possessing Child Porn

LONG BEACH, CA - A tip that originated in Brussels, Belgium, led to the arrest by federal agents Friday of a 36-year-old Torrance middle school music teacher on a state charge of suspicion of possession of child pornography, authorities said.

Eric James Mitchell, a music teacher at Calle Mayor Middle School, was arrested at his Long Beach home by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, ICE spokeswoman Virginia Kice said.

Agents served a search warrant at Mitchell's home and found "sexually explicit images of minors on digital devices in the home," she said.

"Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department assigned to the Long Beach Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and officers from the Torrance Police Department aided with the arrest, Kice said.

Agents informed the Torrance Unified School District about the investigation and Mitchell was placed on administrative leave, she said.

"We don't have any indication at this time that this individual victimized any of his students, but that's certainly a concern whenever we're investigating a child pornography suspect who has close and ongoing contact with children," Joseph Macias, special agent in charge of HIS Los Angeles, said.

"I'd caution we're still in the very initial stages of reviewing the evidence in this case and we encourage the public to come forward if they have further information," Macias said.

Mitchell came under scrutiny after Long Beach-based HIS special agents were tipped by the Brussels-based HIS attache, Kice said.

He was hired in September of 2014 and prior to that had worked as a substitute teacher in Long Beach, according to Tammy Khan, a spokeswoman for the school district.

Dave Mosely, the principal at Calle Mayor, issued a letter to parents notifying them of the arrest and that Mitchell was on administrative leave. He said he was working with district administration to make sure there was not interruption to music classes at the school.

"The Calle Mayor administration, faculty and staff value the relationship we have with our students, parents and the community," he wrote. "We are dedicated to maintaining a safe, secure and productive learning environment for our students."

Anyone with information regarding the ongoing investigation was urged to contact ICE's toll-free Tip Line at (866) DHS-2-ICE or by completing the agency's online tip form.

The investigation was part of HIS' Operation Predator, which Kice called "an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators."

Kice did not have further details about the Brussels connection to the case.

--City News Service