A Massachusetts gym teacher has been arrested on disturbing child pornography charges, sending shockwaves through multiple school communities.
Stephen McDonough, 60, was taken into custody by State Police and charged with both possession and dissemination of child pornography. Investigators say he had worked at schools in Belmont, Waltham, and Watertown, though officials stressed that not all districts employed him directly.
According to police, the case began in late August when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children flagged “suspicious online activity” tied to McDonough’s Waltham home. Because of his position as a teacher with direct access to children, troopers said they acted quickly.
By late September, police and Homeland Security agents executed a search warrant at McDonough’s home. Investigators say they discovered child pornography on his phone, in his home, and linked to his online accounts.
McDonough was arraigned in Waltham District Court and ordered held on $25,000 cash bail. A judge barred him from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 18 and from working or volunteering with minors. He is due back in court October 22 for a pretrial hearing.
School districts have been scrambling to clarify his ties. Belmont officials said McDonough never worked for the district itself but was employed by the Butler Extended Day Program, which serves elementary students before and after school. Waltham Public Schools confirmed he had no direct role in their system either.
Meanwhile, St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School in Watertown confirmed McDonough had been teaching gym there once a week, hired through a staffing agency. He had only been at the school three times since the year began and will not be returning. Administrators said they do not believe any students at their school were harmed.
Police are now urging anyone with additional information to contact Massachusetts State Police.
What a disgusting man
He may change his last name to Kennedy to help gather support from Massachusetts residents.
I heard Massachusetts school boards are rallying around McDonough claiming he had a special way with students and female school board members from across the state are setting up GoFund me accounts for his defense.