Westlake Village teacher faces child pornography charges





A Thousand Oaks man who taught at White Oak Elementary School in Westlake Village pleaded not guilty last week to child pornography charges, authorities said.


Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 56-year-old James Robertson at his home on Aug. 5 after finding pornographic files on his computer and other printed materials.


"We served the search warrant and based on what we found we arrested him the same day," said Eric Nishimoto, a sheriff’s spokesperson.


Robertson is free on $10,000 bail, according to authorities. The charges are misdemeanors.


Nishimoto said the sheriff’s department received a confidential tip and conducted a one-week investigation that led to the arrest.


Stephen Hanke, an assistant superintendent of personnel for the Las Virgenes Unified School District said the school board is placing Robertson on mandatory administrative leave.


Hanke said the charges did not involve any students at the school. "There was no connection whatsoever made to the school as far as we know at this point. This is purely a private issue."


Hanke said the school district was "surprised and saddened" at the charges.


Robertson, a 30-year veteran of the school district, also taught fourth and fifth grades at Westlake school. He also taught at Lupin Hill Elementary School in Calabasas, Hanke said.


––John Loesing



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