District Attorney Announces Conviction of School Teacher For Possession of Child Pornography

On Thursday April 7^th, 2016, David Prashker was found guilty of Possession of Child Pornography, in violation of California Penal Code section 311.11(a).

On February 18^th, 2016, investigators from the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force served a search warrant in the 3600 block of Bickerstaff Rd in Lafayette.  As officers were attempting to contact Mr. Prashker at his residence, he fled to the back of the house and threw a laptop computer from his second floor bedroom into the backyard. Forensic examiners recovered the laptop, and an initial analysis revealed its hard drive contained evidence of child pornography.

Mr. Prashker was charged in a criminal complaint on February 22^nd, 2016 with the possession of distribution of child pornography and attempting to destroy evidence.  Under a plea agreement, Mr. Prashker admitted that on February 18^th, 2016, he knowingly possessed electronic matter depicting a child under 18 years old engaged in sexual activity.

Mr. Prashker will serve 100 days in county jail and serve a period of three years on probation.  In addition, Mr. Prashker was ordered to register a sex offender.  The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Cheryl Mills, Superior Court Judge.

Mr. Prashker, a 60 year-old resident of Lafayette, has been a teacher and school administrator for 30 years, having held positions in Toronto, Canada; London, England; and Miami, Florida. Most recently, Mr. Prashker has been employed as a substitute teacher at two private schools in central Contra Costa County. The schools have been notified; there is no evidence at this point that Mr. Prashker engaged in any crimes involving the students of either school.

“This office will hold accountable those individuals with a position of trust over children who chose to violate that trust by possessing and distributing child pornography. With National Victims’ Rights Week this month, it is important to remember that when images of a child being sexually assaulted are distributed across the internet, the child is re-victimized each time” said District Attorney Mark Peterson.

Deputy District Attorney Jordan Sanders is prosecuting the case.  The prosecution is a result of an investigation by a multi-agency Internet Crimes Against Children task force in Contra Costa County represented by detectives from the Concord, Martinez, Walnut Creek, Moraga and San Ramon police departments, along with investigators from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, the Contra Costa County Probation Department and federal law enforcement.