Former Bakersfield teacher may have used job to obtain child porn

BAKERSFIELD — A former Bakersfield teacher was arrested Thursday night on child pornography charges.

Michael Scott Cooper, 42, previously employed as a schoolteacher at Loudun Elementary School in Bakersfield, was apprehended without incident on a federal criminal complaint charging possession and receipt or distribution of child pornography. The arrest was the culmination of a lengthy investigation conducted by the Bakersfield Police Department and the FBI.

The matter was brought to the attention of law enforcement officials after representatives of the Kern County Child Protective Services Department learned that Cooper was possibly in possession of inappropriate photographs involving a child. The subsequent investigation revealed that, in addition to the Internet, Cooper may have used his position as an elementary school teacher to obtain inappropriate photographs.

Cooper was scheduled to be arraigned Friday before United States Magistrate Judge Thurston, at the United States District Court in Bakersfield.

The charges contained in the complaint carry the maximum sentence of 20 years.

Persons with information about this case are encouraged to contact the Bakersfield FBI Office at (661) 323-9665.