Press Releases
04/26/2024
Vernon Man Pleads Guilty to Charges of Possession of Child Pornography, Risk of Injury to a Child
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Vernon, CT) – Matthew C. Gedansky, Tolland Judicial District State’s Attorney, announced that Christian Stevenson, age 54, of Vernon, pleaded guilty today in Rockville Superior Court to charges of Illegal Possession of Child Pornography in the First Degree, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-196d, and three counts of Risk of Injury to a Child, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53-21(a)(1).
Stevenson’s pleas follow his arrest in October of 2021 after a lengthy investigation by Detective Thomas Van Tasel of the Vernon Police Department regarding suspected child pornography being accessed within the town. After receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and executing multiple search warrants, it was discovered that Stevenson was importing and accessing child pornography on his personal online accounts. This child pornography included both still images, as well as an electronic video file. It was later discovered that Stevenson was a high school teacher at Rockville High School, and served as the golf coach. After executing additional search warrants, Detective Van Tasel learned that Stevenson had taken covert photographs of multiple female students within Rockville High School and within his classroom, as well as accessed students’ social media accounts and downloaded their images, all without their knowledge. Many of these photographs focused on the private areas of the students.
Stevenson is scheduled to be sentenced in Rockville Superior Court on June 21, 2024. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Stevenson faces a total effective sentence of 20 years, execution of that sentence to be suspended after the service of seven to nine years in prison, followed by 10 years of probation. Stevenson will be required to register with the Connecticut Sexual Offender Registry for a period of 10 years.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Jaclyn Preville.