Former Rosarian Teacher Now Facing 59 Charges of Child Porn on Top of Sexual Battery Accusations

By Marissa Bagg
WPTV
August 15, 2013

http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_c_palm_beach_county/west_palm_beach/former-rosarian-teacher-now-facing-59-charges-of-child-porn-on-top-of-sexual-battery-accusations

Days before his next court appearance, prosecutors aren't holding back on Stephen Budd. They've added 59 of charges of child pornography in the case against him.

"It was 19 videos and 40 images, the videos were approximately 2 hours total," says West Palm Beach Police Detective David Lafont.

The former Rosarian Academy teacher is already facing five charges of sexual battery and molestation. He's accused of forcing two young girls under his desk to perform sex acts on him in class. Police found a hard drive in Budd's car the day he was arrested for those alleged crimes back in April.

"The daughter when she was interviewed, she said he asked her to swap computers from his car, his work computer with personal computer and leave it in his vehicle. When she went back one comp was missing," said Det. Lafont.

Investigators were able to match files with a database held by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

In the Rosarian case, Detective Lafont says Budd apologized to one victim, but didn't go far enough to give a confession.

"It was enough to corroborate victims statements, when you have two victims and that statement along with it, and no denial saying he didn't do it, it does raise your eyebrow," said Det. Lafont.

Lafont wouldn't comment on whether there could be more victims out there, but he says the case remains an open and active investigation.