Local science teacher faces child sexual abuse/exploitation charges

A Cedar City man, whom authorities said was a local science teacher, is now facing serious charges – multiple counts of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor.

Chad Ryan Huntsman, 32, was booked into the Iron County Jail on Sept. 3 charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor.

Huntsman was released from jail the next day after posting $100,000 bail, according to court records.

During the investigation, Cedar City Police wrote in a probable cause statement filed in the case that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was also able to determine through Facebook that Huntsman was a science teacher at Diamond Ranch Academy in Hurricane.

The case against the man began with a tip the Cedar City Police Department received from NCMEC about alleged illegal activity being posted to an online cloud, according to the probable cause statement.

CCPD received the tip from NCMEC after Dropbox Inc. reported a user had downloaded material related to alleged child abuse, the statement indicated.

Using the email address provided by the online storage service, police detectives were able to get an IP address of two computers allegedly used to upload the photos and an iPhone 5c, also allegedly used to upload photos, the statement continued.

Vivint advised police the two IP addresses used with the email account and iPhone were Huntsman’s – one at his home and another traced to Diamond Ranch Academy, police wrote in the statement.

“A search warrant was served on (Huntsman’s) address. Chad’s iPhone 5c was found in his bedroom. He gave us the password,” the investigating officer wrote. “Several hundred pictures of child pornography were on the phone.”

Huntsman allegedly admitted to possessing and sharing child porn after waiving his Miranda rights.

Police said in the probable cause statement that Huntsman also admitted to taking some of the pictures.

DRA has issued the following public statement regarding the matter:

"DRA is astonished and deeply saddened to hear of the events leading to the arrest of Chad Huntsman. His alleged misconduct had no connection whatsoever with his employment, any DRA computer or device, or his relationship with any of our students.

DRA strives to provide a safe environment for the well being of these youth. Mr. Huntsman’s employment at DRA has been placed on suspended status while DRA conducts an internal investigation and the authorities move forward with their investigation. DRA holds its employees to the highest legal and ethical standards, which includes national background checks which must be done each year, and employees who violate those standards are subject to disciplinary action, which may include immediate termination.”

Follow Haven Scott, @HavenWScott . Call him at 435-865-4522.

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