By G. T. Houts
Los Angeles, CA – Eugene Ballantyne, 30, from Running Springs has been sentenced to 10 years in prison following his conviction for sexual exploitation of minors and producing child pornography. The former Rim of the World High School teacher was employed as a middle school teacher with Arrowview Middle School in San Bernardino when he was arrested in March 2012.
THE SENTENCING
Eugene Ballantyne (Contributed Photo)
U.S. District Court Judge George H. King handed down the sentence Monday in Courtroom 650 of the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and Courthouse in Los Angeles.
Judge King addressed the court during the oft delayed sentencing stating that ”Ballantyne committed these acts in a ‘callous manner’ .”
Court documents also show the judge indicated Ballantyne’s sentence was needed to deter other Internet predators.
THE CASE
The FBI’s multi-jurisdictional case against Ballantyne began when detectives with the South Brunswick, NJ Police Department were contacted by a parent of a 13-year old girl. The parent had become aware of sexually explicit communication between the victim and Ballantyne.
Ballantyne was identified as the suspect after San Bernardino School District officials confirmed he was the user of the phone at Arrowview Middle School used to communicate with the minor child.
The two had met on an Internet chat site, according to FBI documents, and exchanged contact information and corresponded via Internet messaging services the victim downloaded following Ballantyne’s instructions. The communications included nude pictures of the suspect and partially nude and sexually suggestive pictures of the girl.
During a search of his Running Springs residence, Ballantyne admitted contact with at least two additional victims. In one instance, he traveled 180 miles to have sex with the third victim, according to court documents.
THE INVESTIGATION
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office; detectives with the South Brunswick, New Jersey, Police Department; and the FBI’s New Jersey Cybercrimes Task Force.
The San Bernardino County Unified School District provided assistance and cooperated with the investigation. (174)