A former teacher at a Chula Vista High School learning center was sentenced Aug. 23 to 97 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to downloading computer images of a young girl in sexually explicit conduct.
Roberto Antonio Sandoval, 43, was allowed to remain free on $150,000 bond until he surrenders to prison on Sept. 27, according to court records.
U.S. District Court Judge Janis Sammartino issued a tentative forfeiture order that the government keep his four computers and hard drives which were seized in August 2015.
Sandoval could have received a maximum term is 20 years. He will have to register as a sex offender with law enforcement in whatever community he resides after his release.
Sandoval worked in an alternative education program with the Sweetwater Union High School District. He was placed on leave after his arrest in January 2016.
“Child pornography has a devastating effect on its innocent victims, who can never rest assured that inappropriate images are off the internet,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alana Robinson.
“Thanks to the FBI’s diligence, Sandoval’s illegal conduct was discovered and he will now face significant prison term for his crime,” said Robinson.
The charges are federal because his computer received images that affected interstate and foreign commerce. Four other counts against him were dismissed.
