SEDGWICK COUNTY —A former Kansas middle school teacher who plead not guilty to nearly a dozen counts of sexual exploitation of a child was sentenced Monday.
Judge Eric Williams sentenced 41-year-old Cody Chitwood to 3 years probation with an underlying sentence of 64 months which means he would serve the prison sentence if he violates probation, must register as a sex offender for 25 years, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. He agreed to a plea deal in September.
In 2018, authorities arrested Chitwood after officials found more than 250 images and videos of child pornography on the electronic device they seized in an investigation. He taught special education at Derby Middle School and coached football, track and girls basketball.
The school district voted to fire him immediately. Chitwood was hired by the district in 2004.
Chitwood originally told investigators that “when you’re on the internet you see a lot of things” but added that he “never knowingly nor willing traded child pornography on any website.”
-The Associated Press contributed to this report