Torrance Music Teacher To Face Judge On Child Pornography Charge

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Torrance middle school music teacher is scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday on a child pornography charge, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Eric James Mitchell, 36, is scheduled to be arraigned in downtown Los Angeles on one count of possession of more than 600 images of child pornography.

Law enforcement agents raided Mitchell's home on March 25 on a tip that originated in Brussels and found sexually explicit images of minors on digital devices, according to District Attorney's officials. Mitchell was arrested at Calle Mayor Middle School the same day.

He was freed after posting $20,000 bail seven hours later, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department jail records.

Mitchell, who has been placed on administrative leave, was hired by the Torrance Unified School District in September 2014, according to district spokeswoman Tammy Khan. Prior to being hired in Torrance, Mitchell worked as a substitute teacher in Long Beach.

If convicted, Mitchell faces up to five years in state prison.