FRESNO, Calif. — A band instructor was arrested by federal law enforcement last week, accused of conning students into changing uniforms while he videotaped them.
Steven Christopher Montes, age 25, of Visalia, was taken into custody Friday by investigators from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Montes is charged with multiple counts of producing and possessing child pornography. He was later released from jail on bond.
The probe targeting Montes began Aug. 8 after school administrators alerted the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office that a teacher had allegedly taken video of unsuspecting students while they changed clothes in a school classroom. A female student discovered the recording device when she was asked to change into various band outfits at Montes’ direction. The student notified school administrators, who took immediate action.
Subsequently, investigators seized several computers from the school and executed a search warrant at the Visalia residence where Montes had been living. Additionally, authorities recovered other computers and media devices from various locations. Detectives believe there could be additional victims from both the Riverdale area and Visalia, where Montes also worked as a band teacher.
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
