After months of court cases and strong words from a U.S. Magistrate Judge, a former Pasco County assistant principal has pleaded guilty to multiple charges of producing, distributing and possessing child pornography.
Kyle Dale Ritsema, 36, was the former assistant principal at Cypress Creek Middle High School beginning in March 2017 and continuing until his arrest in February 2018. He is accused of sending messages to another administrator involving child porn between 2014 and 2016, texting about their shared sexual interests in children.
Earlier this month, William Napolitano, 35, was sentenced to life in federal prison after pleading guilty in August to possession of child porn along with enticing and coercing a minor into sexual activity. Napolitano is a former transportation manager for Pasco County Schools.
Prosecutors say Napolitano and Ritsema "traded war stories about sexually abusing children and conspired to have group sex with minors."
Court documents show that Ritsema enticed a 14-year-old on the app, 'Grinder,' as early as November 2014, knowing that the teen was a minor. Ritsema is accused of having sexual interactions with the child at least five times over one year.
During one occasion, Ritsema is accused of using his phone to take and send several explicit photos of the teen, sharing graphic details of the encounter with others.
Judge Amanda Sansone had some strong words for Ritsema after viewing evidence in February, citing "systematic and systemic" behavior and describing him as a "wolf in sheep's clothing.'
Ritsema has been working in schools in the area since at least 2006.
Before Cypress Creek Middle High School, Ritsema worked as an assistant principal at Pine View Middle School, as an administrative intern at River Ridge Middle School and a math teacher and math coach at Paul R. Smith Middle School, Gulf Highland Elementary School and Seven Springs Middle School.
The U.S. Attorney's Office has revealed there may be more victims and that there could be a public health concern. Any person who has had unprotected sex with Ritsema or knows anyone who may have is urged to contact Homeland Security Investigations.
Ritsema, 36, faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years and could face up to 30 for producing child porn, and faces a minimum term of five years and up to 20 years for distribution. He faces up to 10 years for possession charges. In total, he faces up to 80 years in federal prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Murray and has been investigated by U.S. homeland security and FDLE.
A sentencing date has not been set, according to the United States Attorney's Office.
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