LOUISVILLE (KY)
WHAS 11 [Louisville, KY]
February 2, 2024
By Arianna Sergio
Authorities said some of these materials had been manipulated by morphing or photoshopping original child sexual abuse materials with non-explicit images of minors.
WARNING: This story contains content that could be graphic or disturbing to some readers.
A Louisville middle school teacher could spend decades in prison after being accused of using his students’ photos to create and distribute child pornography.
While working as a 7th and 8th grade religion teacher at St. Stephen Martyr Catholic School, 39-year-old Jordan Fautz distributed child sexual abuse materials to an undercover officer, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky. Authorities said this happened in March 2022, November 2022, December 2023, and January 2024.
The Archdiocese of Louisville issued a statement on Friday afternoon saying Fautz was arrested and was a part-time religion teacher and member of the maintenance staff at the parish for nine years.
Officials said he will not be returning to the school.
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Court documents show that some of these materials were manipulated by morphing or photoshopping original child sexual abuse materials with non-explicit images of minors.
In one instance, documents say a student’s image was photoshopped onto a nude female’s body. Authorities said an undercover officer received photoshopped photos/videos of the students naked or performing sexual acts at the school from Fautz.
According to a federal complaint, Fautz used photos of his students from yearbooks or school publications. It also said that non-nude photos include students wearing “clearly labeled” red shirts with the letters “SSM” standing in front of a “SSMCardinals” school photo backdrop.
Police believe that the SSM stands for St. Stephen Martyr.
The complaint said a folder sent by Fautz to an undercover officer contained 115 images of “mostly teenage girls, labeled with what appears to be their real names.”
Fautz is accused of effectively doxing people by using their personal information, like their real names.
The complaint says the victims appear to be between the ages of 8 and 17.
Fautz is charged with distributing obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse and distributing child pornography.
If Fautz is convicted he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and maximum potential penalties of 40 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release.
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A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Fautz will be scheduled to make his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, but it’s unknown when.
There is no parole in the federal system. The FBI is investigating the case.
St. Stephen Martyr School is holding a parent meeting on Saturday at 1 p.m. Representatives from the Archdiocese and the FBI will be present.
The FBI Louisville Field Office is looking to identify potential victims of Jordan Fautz. If you or your minor dependent(s) have information about Fautz, please contact the FBI at SSMtips@fbi.gov. Victims may be eligible for certain services, restitution, and rights under federal and/or state law.