Former Elementary School Teacher Sentenced 13 Years for Child Pornography

A former art teacher at a Sterling elementary school was sentenced Friday to 13 years in prison after pleading guilty in April to 50 counts of possession of child pornography.

Ralph Watts Conrad, 43, of Hamilton, was sentenced to 50 years in prison with 37 years suspended and 20 years supervised probation upon his release. He must also register as a sex offender and undergo mental health counseling upon his release.

“The Court rejects the suggestion that this is a victimless crime,” said Judge Stephen E. Sincavage. “Child subjects are victimized every time someone looks at or views the videos and images.”

Conrad taught at Loudoun County Public Schools for 15 years, most recently at Algonkian Elementary School. He also served as an itinerant art teacher at Belmont Station, Creighton’s Corner, Frances Hazel Reid, Legacy, Lowe’s Island and Mill Run elementary schools. Conrad was disciplined once after having an inappropriate sexual conversation with a middle school girl, according to the Commonwealth’s proffer of evidence.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office was contacted last August by a Special Agent from Homeland Security Investigations Immigration and Customs Enforcement who identified a suspect from Loudoun later determined to be Conrad. Detectives executed a search warrant and seized numerous devices from Conrad’s home.

An investigation revealed Conrad possessed 528 videos and 2,735 images of minors, including some as young as 2 and 3 years old. Officials said there is no evidence any of the material was manufactured in Loudoun County and no local children were believed to be victimized.

Pursuant to Virginia’s Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act, Conrad will also be required to register as a sex offender. Information about the Virginia’s Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry and those on it can be found on the Virginia State Police website: http://sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov.

Image: Courtesy Loudoun County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney