KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The United States Attorney’s Office announced six recent prosecutions involving trusted adults accused of exploiting children while serving in positions of authority. This announcement comes on the heels of back-to-school season and is part of the district’s ongoing commitment to protect children from alleged predators.
“When parents send their children to school, they do so with the expectation that their children are in the care of trusted adults,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “They should never have to question whether a teacher, school administrator, or coach, is exploiting or putting their child at risk. Our office, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute those who compromise the safety, security, and well-being of children in our district. Protecting children is among our highest priorities, and we will hold accountable anyone who threatens their safety, to the fullest extent of the law.”
“We entrust our educators with one of the most important responsibilities in our communities: helping shape the lives and futures of our children,” said Chris Ormerod, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kansas City Field Office. We trust them to educate our students, to teach them the values of responsible citizenship, and to provide guidance and life lessons that extend far beyond the classroom. The vast majority of educators across this country honor that responsibility every day and we deeply commend them for their dedication and service. But make no mistake: when an educator abuses their position of trust to exploit a child, that will not be tolerated. The FBI will pursue those who prey upon children and will work to ensure that offenders are held accountable under the law.”
Matthew Joseph Wick, 35, Independence, Mo., is a guidance counselor at Raytown South Middle School. On Aug. 25, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Wick with one count of possession of child pornography. According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Wick’s telephone provider submitted several cyber tip reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding videos that were uploaded to the provider’s cloud storage for Wick’s account. According to court documents, investigators discovered that there was a secure folder that contained 55 video files that constituted child pornography on Wick’s cellular device. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Independence, Missouri Police Department.
Caleb J. Eyde, 21, is a substitute elementary school teacher for the Independence, Missouri. School District. On Aug. 25, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Eyde with four counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Discord Inc., a group communication platform, submitted several cyber tip reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding videos depicting Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) that were uploaded to the company’s platform from two accounts. The results of the investigation led local law enforcement and federal agents to Eyde. Investigators obtained Discord Inc. records which investigators believe indicate Eyde was distributing, trading, and purchasing CSAM from other users. Examinations of Eyde’s electronic devices uncovered images and videos depicting CSAM that were saved to Eyde’s devices. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Collins. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Independence, Missouri Police Department.
Joel Thomas Rosales, 44, of Independence, Mo., was a former recreational softball coach in Oak Grove, Mo. On Aug. 25, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Rosales with one count of receipt of child pornography. According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint, an adult witness discovered communications from Rosales on a minor victim’s cell phone. The communications were sexually explicit in nature and Rosales received images depicting CSAM. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oak Grove, Missouri Police Department.
Jonathan Xavier Valdez, 36, of Blue Springs, Mo., was an area Scouting America Troop Leader. On June 24, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Valdez with one count each of production of child obscenity and possession of child obscenity involving multiple minors. According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Valdez, over the course of at least 10 months, allegedly manipulated clothed images of multiple minors to create graphic nude depictions of those children appearing to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Valdez is a troop leader with Scouting America and has been active with the Scouts for several years. Members of the Federal Bureau of Investigations investigated the allegations after a witness came forward on June 12, 2026, and reported having observed obscene images of minors on Valdez’s smart TV screensaver. During a subsequent search of Valdez’s residence, FBI investigators located multiple manipulated still images and videos depicting at least five minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct on Valdez’s TV, cell phone, and other devices. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Luna. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Richard Villigram, 43, of Kansas City, Mo., a Plaza Middle School teacher, was charged in federal court on attempted child exploitation charges. On May 6, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Villigram with one count each of attempted use of an interstate facility to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, attempted receipt of child pornography, and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Villigram, over the course of several days, allegedly engaged in online communications with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing online as a 15-year-old minor. During his communications with the person he believed to be a minor, Villigram arranged to meet the purported minor to engage in sexual conduct and asked the purported minor to send him pornographic images. Villigram was later arrested on April 21, 2026, after arriving at the location he arranged to meet the minor to engage in sexual conduct. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Luna. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.