Music Teacher Pleads Not Guilty to Child Pornography Count

LOS ANGELES, CA - A man who taught music at a Torrance middle school pleaded not guilty Thursday to a felony count of possession of child pornography.

Eric James Mitchell, 36, was allegedly found to be in possession of more than 600 images of child pornography, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

He was arrested March 25 after authorities served a search warrant at his Long Beach residence, where they allegedly found the "sexually explicit images of minors on digital devices in the home," said Virginia Kice of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

A tip that originated in Brussels, Belgium, led to his arrest. Kice said.

Agents informed the Torrance Unified School District about the investigation and Mitchell was placed on unpaid administrative leave from his job at Calle Mayor Middle School.

Mitchell was released on bond the day of his arrest. He is due back in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom June 22, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.

He could face up to five years in state prison if convicted, according to the District Attorney's Office.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock