A former Anaheim elementary school teacher and high school wrestling coach pleaded guilty on Monday to possession of child pornography, authorities said.
Richard O’Connor, a 45-year-old resident of Anaheim, was previously employed as a fourth-grade teacher at Crescent Elementary School and volunteered as a boy’s wrestling coach at Canyon High School. Both schools are in Anaheim. O’Connor was placed on leave in September 2022 and employed with the district until February 2023, said Orange Unified School District Communications Coordinator Hana Brake.
In October 2022, authorities served a federal search warrant for O’Connor’s Apple iCloud account and identified at least 81 videos and 158 images of child sexual abuse material, the U.S. Justice Department said. O’Connor admitted in his plea agreement that material found on his account depicted infants or toddlers, as well as one video of a child engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct.
He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography as part of a plea agreement, according to court records. The former teacher is not accused of victimizing students, officials said.
At least two parents this week said they learned of the guilty plea from a Justice Department news release, not from the school.
In response, the district said in a statement: “Orange Unified School District was notified by the United States Attorney’s Office that former OUSD teacher and coach Richard O’Connor has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. There is no indication that any misconduct occurred at a school site, involved any school device, or involved OUSD students. Orange Unified School District prioritizes the health and safety of our students and staff. Employees must undergo FBI and Department of Justice background checks before being cleared to work with students. OUSD continues to focus on the genuine wellness and safety of our students.”
O’Connor is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana on Dec. 18, when he faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and will be required to register as a sex offender, according to officials.
Federal prosecutors have agreed to recommend a punishment of no more than five years in prison as part of his plea deal, a Justice Department news release said.
