Former Orange County Elementary School Teacher Charged in Child Porn Investigation

A former elementary school teacher in Orange County has now officially been charged with 15 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Authorities said in a release on Wednesday that Stefan Winfried Anders was arrested on Wednesday morning.

Anders was suspended from his position as a fifth grade teacher at New Hope Elementary School last month amid an investigation into a possible child pornography case. Authorities said seven cell phones, six computers, more than a dozen thumb drives and assorted camera equipment were seized from Anders through a search warrant. Three of the computers seized are the property of Orange County Schools, according to Wednesday’s update.

“Reviewing the files stored on these devices is incredibly time consuming,” said investigator Ashley Woodlief said in the release. “We still have more digital material to process, but at this point, we determined Mr. Anders possessed multiple photographs, the content of which is in violation of the laws of North Carolina.”

Woodlief said on Wednesday that the sheriff’s office was unaware of any New Hope Elementary students being the subject of any of the photographs.

Orange County Schools issued the following statement Wednesday:

Today, we learned that a former New Hope Elementary Teacher, Mr. Stefan Anders, was arrested on multiple charges related to exploitation of a minor.  As soon as Orange County Schools was notified last month that there were possible allegations of offenses by Mr. Anders, administration immediately placed him on suspension and prohibited him from being on campus. Subsequently, Mr. Anders resigned from employment with Orange County Schools.  No Orange County Schools students are connected with charges against Mr. Anders.  

Officials said it is possible other charges could be filed. Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at (919) 245-2900 or Woodlief directly at (919) 245-2909.

Anders is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.

Photo via Orange County Sheriff’s Office