King High math teacher resigns after child porn arrest

A King High School math teacher has resigned after being arrested and charged with possessing child pornography.

"I don't know what is wrong with me," Aaron Brian Sands, 41, told federal agents who searched his home at 1444 Highland Ridge Circle in Brandon on Wednesday, according to a criminal complaint. Sands helped forensic experts locate the images on his laptop computer.

The computer had at least 36 images, many involving prepubescent children as young as 2 engaging in sex acts with men, documents state. One suggested possible bestiality.

Sands was a teacher in the International Baccalaureate program at King High, 6815 N. 56th St., according to the magnet school's Web site.

Hillsborough County schools spokesman Steve Hegarty said a district official went to deliver a letter to Sands today, telling him not to report to work while the case is pending.

"He resigned when we went to present the letter," Hegarty said.

Sands had worked at the school since 2006 and there have been no indications that he acted inappropriately with students, Hegarty said.

"There have been no complaints against him," he said.

According to Sands' personnel file, he was discharged from the U.S. Army in 1993 after three years and nine months as an infantryman. He received several citations, including the Army Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and Overseas Service Ribbon. Before joining the Army, he lived in Maine.

He also reported in his application that he had worked in schools in Pasco and Polk counties.

Renee Sedlack, human resources director for the Pasco school district, confirmed Sands worked in the district, but because his employment was sometime before 1996, additional information wasn't available today.

Details on Sands' employment in Polk weren't immediately available. A Polk school reference provided an evaluation, giving Sands high marks in virtually every category, including the ability to motivate others. There was no mark given in the category for rapport with staff and students.

Sands told federal agents he had child pornography on his laptop and said his wife didn't know anything about it, documents state. He said he was the only person in the household who used that computer.

U.S. Magistrate Thomas Wilson set Sands' bond at $25,000, to be secured by $10,000 equity in the couple's home and by a signature from Sands' father-in-law. Sands remained in the Pinellas County Jail this afternoon.

Sands' wife initially told court officials that her husband could not return to their home but later changed her mind, documents state. She and her father agreed to sign a bond to secure his release.

If convicted, Sands faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

His arrest was part of "Operation Predator," an ongoing investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that identifies people who sexually exploit children, said ICE spokeswoman Nicole Navas.

The ICE initiative began in 2003 and has resulted in more than 12,000 arrests. The agency encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its hot line at1-866-347-2423.