Coral Springs teacher faces multiple charges after police uncover disturbing child pornography evidence
Coral Springs, Florida – A longtime Coral Springs elementary school teacher has been arrested and charged with multiple felony counts related to child pornography, following an extensive investigation that authorities say began with a tip from a national watchdog group.
Craig Rogers, 60, a physical education teacher at Westchester Elementary School, was taken into custody on July 2 after Coral Springs police and the Broward Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the Studio 6 Motel on North University Drive, where Rogers had been staying. Officers seized several electronic devices from the motel room for forensic analysis.
According to police, the investigation began in May when the Coral Springs Police Department received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip involved a user on the social media app Kik who was allegedly distributing child sexual abuse material to other users. Investigators soon linked the account to Rogers.
The arrest report details a disturbing collection of over 75 files that allegedly depicted nude children and other material meeting the legal definition of child sexual abuse. Within the Kik account, detectives say they found images that appeared to be taken inside Rogers’ school office and equipment room. Some of the photos showed clothed students during physical education class, which authorities believe were used to support the identity of the suspect.
Investigators also uncovered online messages in which Rogers referred to himself as a “pervert teacher” and wrote that his “favorite students are aged 12 at my school.” Other messages reportedly referenced children as young as six, and discussed or distributed explicit content involving minors.
Rogers is currently facing seven felony charges related to the possession and distribution of child pornography. The Coral Springs Police Department’s Special Victims Unit is leading the investigation in coordination with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
“This case is extremely serious and deeply disturbing,” police officials said in a statement. “Protecting children remains a top priority, and we will continue to investigate any leads that emerge.”
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The arrest marks the second time this year Rogers has been in legal trouble. In April, he was charged with stalking and filing false police reports following a lengthy campaign of harassment against a neighboring family — which included a Coral Springs police officer. That separate case is still pending.
Broward County Public Schools has not issued a formal statement regarding Rogers’ employment status, though officials have confirmed he is no longer teaching pending the outcome of the investigation.
Authorities urge anyone with additional information related to this case to contact Detective Nicole Hildebrandt at [email protected].
