Former South Bay coach paid students to create child porn: DOJ
Dec 18, 2024
(KRON) -- A former sports coach at a San Jose high school was arraigned Tuesday in federal court over allegations that he paid students to take explicit images and videos, which he then sold to buyers online.
Todd Baldwin, 44, worked at Valley Christian High School as an operations manager, teaching assistant and sports coach when the alleged crimes took place between Dec. 2022 and Aug. 2023. According to the complaint filed on Oct. 10, 2024, Baldwin persuaded and enticed two minors to create child sexual abuse materials in exchange for money that was sent through the mobile payment platform Venmo.
The victims separately sent numerous explicit photos and videos each week to Baldwin, the complaint said, which he then sold to buyers on Reddit. Proceeds from the sales were allegedly split between the defendant and the victims.
In one instance, it's alleged that Baldwin took nude photos of one of the minors himself inside his office at Valley Christian High School.
Todd Baldwin (San Jose Police Department)
A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent who investigated the case said in an affidavit one student received a total of $4,265 in Venmo payments from Baldwin, and another student received $2,050.
During the police investigation, Baldwin was interviewed by San Jose Police Department detectives in Aug. 2023. According to the complaint, Baldwin admitted to authorities that he paid the two victims in exchange for sexually explicit material, as well as two additional students.
Investigators said further review of Baldwin’s online accounts and witness interviews uncovered more explicit videos and images with suspicious payments tied to at least three other students in addition to the two victims.
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Baldwin, who now resides in Bremerton, Wash., is charged with two counts of enticement of minors and two counts of receipt of child pornography. If convicted, the former San Jose coach faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a minimum sentence of 10 years. He is currently on conditional release following his surrender to authorities on Oct. 28.
Baldwin’s next court date is on Feb. 4, 2025.