Kyle police arrested 30-year-old Dahlstrom Middle School assistant band director Tyler Townsend today on charges of possessing or promotion of child pornography and intimated that the suspect could have had in his possession “invasive” photographs of Dahlstrom students taken without their knowledge.
According to a Kyle Police Department prepared statement, police had a search warrant for Townsend’s residence that was granted as part of a child pornography investigation.
“Several electronic devices were seized from Townsend’s home during the execution of the warrant,” according to the statement. “After reviewing the devices, Kyle Police found that invasive visual recordings of unknowing students were on Townsend’s cell phone. Police are working to identify the victims of these visual recordings and will notify victims directly.”
A statement from Hays CISD stated: “During the course of the police investigation, law enforcement notified Hays CISD that invasive, but not pornographic, photos of unknowing female students, possibly while in school at Dahlstrom, were discovered on Townsend’s cell phone.”
The district said it placed Townsend on administrative leave back on July 27, the same day it was notified police were looking at Townsend as part of a child pornography investigation. Townsend resigned four days later.
Townsend’s arrest comes almost five years to the day he first came to Dahlstrom.
“Townsend’s duties as assistant band director at Dahlstrom included directing the campus symphonic and jazz bands, and the percussion program,” the district said today in a prepared statement. “When Dahlstrom was a feeder middle school to Hays High School, Townsend sometimes assisted with the Hays High School marching band program. In August 2019, Dahlstrom became a feeder pattern for Johnson High School, but Townsend did not assist with the Johnson High School marching band program after the school opened last school year.”
Townsend was charged with 10 felony counts of possession or promotion of child pornography and 10 felony counts of invasive visual recordings. Each count of the third degree felony carries a possible sentence of two to ten years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. If any of the victims are younger than 14, it becomes a second-degree felony with each count carrying a sentence of two to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Townsend was booked into the Hays County jail.
“Child pornography is not a victimless crime and we are dedicated to working this case with the utmost diligence and are leaving no stone unturned,” Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett said in statement.
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