A teacher from the Homer-Center School District has been accused with having child pornography and is currently free on bond.
Charles Allen Kirkland, 31, of Derry Township, was charged on Monday with two counts of child pornography, sharing movies, and using a communication device for unlawful purposes. All three offenses are felonies.
Between July 16 and August 4, five CyberTipline reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted Pennsylvania State Police to nine videos. The information was provided by Google, which found the movies in a Google Drive reportedly used by Kirkland.
Some of the movies featured children, which PSP Computer Crime Unit troopers were able to ascertain.
On September 7, after collecting an IP address, the PSP served Comcast with an administrative subpoena demanding the subscriber’s data. Comcast replied on December 7, and on December 9 the police got a search warrant for the Blairsville residence.
Kirkland was discovered napping in a back bedroom by troopers executing the search warrant from the Computer Crimes Task Force and Kiski Valley barracks on December 11. Kirkland allegedly admitted to watching the movies on several electronic devices when being questioned by authorities.
Since 2016, Kirkland has worked for the Homer-Center School District as a business instructor.
According to DASD Superintendent Greg Ferencak, Kirkland, a 2010 alumnus of Derry Area High School, also served as a substitute teacher at DASD during the 2015–16 academic year. Kirkland had the relevant clearances while working at DASD, according to Ferencak.
Kirkland also served as a student teacher at Greater Latrobe School District in 2015, according to a profile page on the website of the Homer-Center School District.
Kirkland is due to show up for a preliminary hearing on December 21 before Magisterial District Judge Kelly Tua Hammers.
Last known contact information
Address: 504 Barnhart Rd, Blairsville, PA 15717
Phone: (724) 459-8706
Court Information
Case #: MJ-10308-CR-0000184-2022 and CP-65-MD-0000895-2022
