Newton teacher held on $100,000 bail in child porn case

WEST ROXBURY, Mass. -- Investigators found hundreds of images of child pornography on an elementary school teacher’s computer and prosecutors said he had a video tape of a 12-year-old girl who was sleeping in her bedroom.

David Ettlinger, a second grade teacher at the Underwood School in Newton, answered to additional charges in West Roxbury District Court on Wednesday, following his arrest and court appearance on Tuesday.

“It has been alleged that on the date of Jan. 17, 2012 in Boston you did commit indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and exhibiting a child in the nude,” said a woman in court.

The 34-year-old teacher faced a judge in connection with a video tape that was seized at his Brighton home. Prosecutors said Ettlinger admitted that he videotaped a 12-year-old girl who was sleeping in her bedroom three years ago. The girl was a daughter of a couple that he was friends with.

“Police asked the defendant a number of questions during an interview at the time of execution of the search warrant. In particular, the asked him to identify the girl pictured in that video. He identified her as the daughter of family friends,” said Prosecutor David Deakin.

Ettlinger’s arrest comes as a surprise to family, friends and school administrators in Newton. Federal agents raided his Brighton home and found hundreds of pornographic images on a computer. Authorities also found dozens of stolen girls’ underwear.

“As you can imagine this is an incredibly upsetting incident,” said Fleishman. “So that’s what’s going on right now and obviously is anyone knows any information they should certainly report it to the Suffolk DA’s office or to the schools. But right now we have heard nothing. Right now the charges stem from not this county,” said Superintendent of Newton Public Schools, David Fleishman.

The superintendent and the principal of Underwood Elementary have send letters home to keep parents informed.

Ettlinger’s attorney says according to the police report his client has admitted to nothing. Ettlinger’s parents, who were in court Wednesday, declined to comment on the charges.

Ettlinger is being held on $1 million surety bond or $100,000 cash bail. He is ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device and have no contact with children if he posts that amount. In court Tuesday, Ettlinger was held on $10,000 bail.

The U.S. Attorney's office said Ettlinger could face federal charges before the end of the week.

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