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Longtime middle school teacher arrested on multiple counts of child porn — he claims it was 'art\
Florida middle school teacher Ronald Sherman was charged on 12 counts of child pornography after authorities received a tip from the website Tumblr. The children depicted in many of the photos and videos were between 3 and 12 years old, authorities said. (Image source: Video screenshot)

Longtime middle school teacher arrested on multiple counts of child porn — he claims it was 'art\

Florida police arrested a longtime middle school teacher Thursday on multiple child pornography-related charges, WSCV-TV reported.

Ronald Sherman, 55, allegedly expressed his intense desire to engage in sex with young girls in at least one online chat room and had downloaded pornography involving young children. Sherman taught science at Apollo Middle School in Hollywood since 2006, according to the Broward County School District.

The Broward Sheriff's Office first began investigating the science teacher in January after they received a tip from employees at the website Tumblr, Sgt. Thomas McInerney told the news station.

“Once we had identified him as a suspect we found out he’s employed here in a local middle school as a science teacher, which obviously raises our concern because he’s in a position of authority, a position of trust, he has access to children,” McInerney told WSCV. “It’s a scary thing for us.”

What's the story?

The sheriff's office and South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force searched Sherman's home in Pompano Beach on Jan. 31.

According to WPLG-TV, Sherman admitted to authorities that the Tumblr account belonged to him, but claimed he didn't upload images to the site and that he only viewed and shared content from other users.

The former teacher told detectives that he "wasn't really trying to do the kiddie porn thing" and that the photos they found were not sexual and would be "considered art," according to the arrest affidavit.

“Not at all. It was absolutely of children, young children. It was absolutely not art," McInerney said. "It was disgusting images.”

The former teacher allegedly made graphic comments on the website about sex with young girls, such as “I love em young! Delicious!” and “Omg! HEAVEN!!!”

The children depicted in many of the photos and videos were between 3 and 12 years old, authorities said.

“He references his desire to have sex with very, very young children, little girls and with his position as a schoolteacher, his position of authority and access to them that was very disturbing to us,” McInerney said, WSCV reported.

What else?

Authorities said they are unaware of any accusations of inappropriate conduct with children against the former science teacher. Sherman reportedly resigned his position shortly after the investigation began.

Police charged him on 12 counts, including possession of child pornography and promoting the sexual performance of a child. He's being held in the Broward County Jail on a $240,000 bond.

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