From Staff Reports
The Cleburne Police Department arrested 53-year-old Timothy Joseph Huot of Cleburne on Tuesday on charges of possession of child pornography and improper photography.
Huot is employed by the Cleburne ISD as an athletic trainer.
Possession of child pornography is a third-degree felony, punishable by two to 10 years imprisonment and a fine up to $10,000.
Improper photography is a state jail felony, punishable by up to two years in a state jail facility and a fine up to $10,000. Improper photography is taking someone’s picture without their consent with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, according to the Texas Penal Code.
Huot was booked into the Johnson County Corrections Center.
On Wednesday, Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Ronny McBroom set his bond at $200,000 on the possession of child pornography charge and $25,000 on the improper photography charge.
The arrest resulted from information received from the Dallas Police Department.
DPD investigators came across evidence related to the crimes, which they forwarded to the Cleburne Police Department, said Sgt. Amy Knoll of CPD.
Huot was arrested at the police department Tuesday night, she said.
The investigation to this point indicates that Huot possessed more than 1,000 pictures related to the charges.
Some of the pictures appear to have been obtained through the Internet or other electronic means.
Other photographs of as yet unidentified children seem to have been taken in the Cleburne area by the suspect, Knoll said.
Some of the pictures are considered to be child pornography and many of the other photographs were improperly taken.
The investigation is ongoing, Knoll said.
Pictures on Huot’s computer were both downloaded from Web sites and uploaded from a digital camera, Knoll said.
The children in the pictures both pubescent and prepubescent and male and female children.
CISD administrators were notified Wednesday morning by Cleburne Police Chief Terry Powell of Huot’s arrest.
A statement issued by the district said Huot was suspended with pay Wednesday morning
A special called meeting of the CISD board of trustees has been scheduled for noon Monday to discuss all legal options relating to appropriate employment action.
“In following Board policy, this was the earliest this meeting could be called,” Superintendent Dr. Ronny Beard is quoted as saying. “This is an exceptionally serious matter. We have been in contact with our legal counsel since we were notified of the arrest and allegations to determine the District’s appropriate course of action.”
District administrators have encouraged the counseling staff to be aware of the impact the arrest and allegations might have on students, and a letter is also being prepared for mailing to parents of CHS students, according to the statement.
“We are cooperating with Chief Powell and Cleburne Police Department investigators,” Beard said in the statement. “Any one with concerns regarding the arrest should notify police officials. They will be keeping in touch with us as the case progresses.”
Huot has been employed by the district as an athletic trainer at CHS since the 1999-2000 school year. He has spent a total of 27 years in education. Before his employment in Cleburne, he was employed at Northside ISD.
