Former Ponca City teacher assistant charged with child pornography

A former Ponca City teacher assistant has been charged with 15 counts of child pornography in Jacksonville, N.C., according to Fox 8 News in High Point, N.C.

William Edwardson, 55, is accused of having multiple inappropriate images and videos of children on his computer, according to the Fox 8 report. He was arrested Saturday and charged on Monday.

Edwardson was employed as an eighth grade social studies teacher in Richlands, N.C., according to the news report. He also served as the athletic director at his school.

He was held in lieu of a $250,000 bond. Charges were brought by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

Warrants in the case say Edwardson received, distributed, exchanged and solicited from the internet videos of young boys engaged in sexual acts. Court documents say the boys were between 8-11 years old, 13-16 years old, and six years old.

Edwardson had a court appearance on Monday and also resigned from his teaching position that day. His next court date is March 2, according to WITN.com.

He had been a Title I teacher assistant at East Middle School in Ponca City. The Ponca City School district hired him Jan. 4, 2012, and he taught for 77 days. Previously he had served as a substitute teacher, starting in 2009.

Ponca City Schools Superintendent Dr. David Pennington said Wednesday that the district has conducted an internal investigation and has determined no issues of wrongdoing involving Ponca City students during the time.

"We have not been contacted by anyone involved with the investigation in North Carolina," Pennington said. "No accusations have been made here. He was hired in 2009 as a substitute teacher after a background check."

Pennington said Edwardson did not have a teaching certificate when he worked for Ponca City schools and he left Ponca City to pursue a teaching degree. Pennington said the district has had no further contact with him since he resigned.

Edwardson also worked as an assistant park ranger for the City of Ponca City from May 2010 through December 2012.