Teacher jailed for possessing child pornography

When he showed up at a St Johns County school Friday, a 26-year-old substitute teacher was taken into custody by deputies for having child pornography on his computer hard drive, according to an arrest report obtained by Historic City News today.

Matthew Clay Atkinson, who School District spokesman Christina Langston said is a “new hire” and only substituted for 4 days, was arrested on five-counts of possession of obscene material; a third-degree felony.

Investigators found multiple movies with video of what appeared to be underage girls involved in sexual activity.

Atkinson admitted downloading the videos and said “he got pleasure” in watching them.

Langston released a statement assuring parents of children who attend the campuses where Atkinson worked, Gaines Transitional School, Mill Creek and Wards Creek Elementary, that neither the crimes nor the videos involve any students of the St Johns County School District.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the School Board, Superintendent Dr. Joe Joyner will recommend Atkinson’s termination, according to the Langston’s statement.

Atkinson was released today on bonds totaling $50,000. According to the booking records of the St Johns County Detention Facility, Atkinson resides at 29 SW 8th Avenue in Cairo Georgia.