Former Fort Worth Theater Teacher Gets 20 Years on Child-porn Charge

A former Fort Worth high-school teacher has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on a child-porn charge.Matthew Anthony Keller, 25, of Watauga pleaded guilty in October to one count of production of child pornography.Keller, the theater director at Southwest High School, resigned about two weeks before his July 2016 arrest.The parent of a 15-year-old Michigan boy reported a "relationship" between Keller and the child in June 2016. Keller and the boy had been exchanging nude pictures and videos for a year and a half, the parent said.The parent also said that Keller planned to travel to Michigan to meet the boy for a "sexual encounter," according to a criminal complaint.Keller told police in Michigan that he had met the then-13-year-old on a website about two years earlier and considered him his boyfriend. He said the boy had sent him about 50 nude pictures and videos.Authorities found a sexually explicit video of the boy on Keller's computer after searching his home."I'm always deeply disturbed by those who produce child pornography," said U.S. Attorney John Parker, "but it's particularly appalling when the child is victimized by a teacher, someone in a trusted position."Keller also volunteered with the youth ministry at Haltom Road Baptist Church; officials there said they were unaware of any inappropriate behavior.  Continue reading...