Former Grade School Teacher Convicted of Child Porn

A man who had more than 27,000 child pornography pictures on his computer while he was teaching at Somerville elementary schools was convicted of possession and transportation of child pornography on Tuesday.

A statement from the U.S. District Court says the sentencing of 28-year-old Josh Wairi, of Somerville, is slated for July 29. Both charges require a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20.

A Patch reported in April of 2014, Wairi had worked as a student teacher at the John F. Kennedy School during 2008 and 2009, and worked as a sixth grade teacher from 2009 to 2001 at the Arthur D. Healy School in Somerville. He was working at a Cambridge school when he was arrested in 2014.

Authorities say Wairi downloaded and sent others hundred upon hundreds of videos and images of sexually exploited children, which he admitted to viewing for sexual self-gratification.

The court says he admitted in an affidavit to filming children in varying stages of undress with his cell phone without their knowledge, and hiding a video camera in a locker room for similar purposes. Where and when these photos and/or videos were created has not been clarified.

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