Hampton High School Teacher Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

(Norfolk, VA) Robert Hatcher, age 43, was arrested today at his home in Hampton, Virginia, on charges relating to the receipt and distribution of child pornography in violation of federal law. Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Cassandra M. Chandler, Special Agent in Charge of the Norfolk Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and, Charles R. Jordan, Jr., Chief of Police of the Hampton, Virginia, Police Department, announced the arrest.

According to an affidavit filed in federal court, Hatcher, a physical education teacher and the Athletic Director at Kecoughtan High School in Hampton, Virginia, has been involved in the receiving and distributing of explicit images of minors via the Internet since approximately 1996. Hatcher is being held without bond pending a preliminary hearing and detention hearing on May 25, 2006.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Hampton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa R. McKeel is prosecuting the matter for the United States.

A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.