A former Texas high school teacher has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after admitting to possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on multiple online platforms, officials announced.
Daniel Byrd, 31, formerly of College Station and a teacher in the Navasota area, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to charges of possessing and distributing CSAM.
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On Monday, U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt sentenced him to 60 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and follow strict conditions limiting his internet use and contact with children.
BACKGROUND: Texas high school teacher charged for allegedly sharing child pornography across online chat groups
According to investigators, Byrd used apps like Telegram and Kik to download and share explicit material involving prepubescent boys. He stored the content on a MEGA cloud account and distributed it by sending links to others through online groups.
Authorities discovered Byrd’s activity through online monitoring and later executed a search warrant at his home, where they seized electronic devices containing CSAM. Some of the images involved graphic sexual abuse between adults and young children.
Byrd had been released on bond but was taken into custody immediately after his sentencing. He will remain in federal custody until he is transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
The case was investigated by the FBI, with help from the College Station Police Department and Brazos County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, which targets individuals involved in the exploitation of children.
Anyone with information about suspected child exploitation is urged to contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.cybertipline.com or 1-800-THE-LOST.