Former Art Teacher Faces Child Porn Charges

0:00It's April 18th. Dallas News Today starts now, AI-powered and ready. I'm Cory with the story. A former art teacher from Northwest Independent School District in Texas is now facing serious federal charges for child pornography. 24-year-old Kyle Lee Roy Francis worked at Lance Thompson Elementary from August 2024 until January 2026. Prosecutors hid him with counts of receipt and possession of that illegal material. Earlier this week, US attorneys in East Texas dropped the news in an official statement. When the district hired him, a standard background check came back clean, with no red flags or prior issues. School leaders moved fast once they caught wind of the federal probe in January. The principal sent a letter to parents assuring everyone no district students were involved. They asked for his resignation right away and tipped off the Texas education agency plus child protective services. Forensic experts dug into his school issued computer and digital trail and they found zero inappropriate stuff there.

1:03That clears the school's equipment from any direct link. Francis could get up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted, so this case is still unfolding as investigators keep piecing it together.