A Pasco County school administrator is on leave after federal investigators filed child pornography charges against him.
According to an FBI investigation, 20-year Pasco school employee Kenneth Dempsey had child pornography in his home.
Authorities said Dempsey had 100 discs of child porn hidden in an air-conditioning vent in his Port Richey home. Authorities found the pornography during a raid of his home on Tuesday.
Mary Gray, with the Pasco County Place Program, send out a message to parents informing them about arrest. News of Dempsey's arrest shocked parents and colleagues at the school.
"My heart hit into my stomach, immediately," said parent Ellen Kittle. "I was just like oh my gosh, I need to talk to my children."
Officials said Dempsey shared some of the material on the popular photo website Shutterfly.
According to reports, the FBI was investigating a Shutterfly group that contained about 17,000 child porn images. An FBI Task Force says Dempsey shared at least 21 images and nine videos with the group of underage boys involved in sex acts.
Dempsey's IP address was tracked by the FBI from the group, which led the task force to his home.
"He never waves, he never says hi or nothing," said neighbor Zlata Nuhanovic. "He just looks at you weird and just leaves. That's all he does."
An afterschool administrator at Schrader Elementary in New Port Richey, Dempsey will be placed on suspension without pay until his likely firing.
"The kids are basically scared," said Kittle. "And I had to sit down with them and have a serious talk with them, about what no parent should ever have to have with their kids."
Dempsey, who had a 6-year-old adopted son living with him, had no previous criminal record. The child is now in protective custody.
After his arrest, authorities said Dempsey told them he never committed any offenses against children.