Former Texas teacher accused of using AI to make explicit images of students pleads guilty to possession
Carl David Innmon (Texas DPS)
AUSTIN, Texas - A former Austin ISD elementary school teacher has pled guilty in federal court to possessing child sexual abuse material, or CSAM.
Court documents say he was found in possession of over 365,000 images of CSAM, including images of minors under 12.
Some of the images were found to be AI-generated from real images of students in a classroom setting. Two children were identified as students at the school where he worked.
The latest:
51-year-old Carl David Innmon now faces up to 20 years in prison.
He was initially indicted on one count of possession of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography, but has only pled to the former.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Former AISD elementary teacher had 365K-plus files of child sex abuse: officials
Innmon was a fifth-grade teacher at Baranoff Elementary in southwest Austin and had also previously worked as a substitute at approximately 20 other schools in AISD.
The investigation
The backstory:
According to federal court documents, Innmon is accused of downloading multiple batches of downloads between Dec. 29, 2024, and Jan. 15, 2025.
There were 126 files that showed an image of a child engaging in sexual conduct or sexual performance.
The children in three of the downloaded files include an infant and two girls between the ages of four and seven.
Court paperwork filed by Texas DPS last March says that in May 2023, DPS investigators began an undercover operation to identify people using torrent and peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing sites to receive and share images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Investigators identified a computer that was actively sharing CSAM and found within the files being shared, there was "at least one minor child engaged in sexually explicit conduct," says the affidavit.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Austin elementary school teacher used AI to create explicit images of students, principal says
From December 29, 2024, to January 15, 2025, the computer downloaded a total of 126 files containing CSAM, including images of nude children being penetrated by adults.
In late February, a subpoena revealed the computer's IP address was registered to Innmon. Investigators then surveilled his home and learned he worked at Baranoff Elementary.
A search warrant was executed, and Innmon allegedly told investigators he had downloaded images of CSAM. Investigators seized a laptop, Innmon's cell phone and a portable hard drive. More CSAM files were found on the hard drive, and court paperwork said investigators were still analyzing the seized devices.
Court paperwork filed later says that investigators found over 365,000 known CSAM images on Innmon's devices.
AI-generated child sexual abuse material
Dig deeper:
Federal court documents also say Innmon was in possession of AI-generated child pornography.
Investigators say Innmon's devices "contained a large quantity of real images depicting students in a classroom. Some of those images were allegedly placed in an AI generator, de-clothing the students."
With assistance from the Austin Independent School District and AISD Police, a Texas Department of Public Safety (TX DPS) Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Special Agent was able to positively identify the students depicted in the images and their ages.
The children were allegedly identified as students of Innmon's.
Investigators also found AI-generated images of the students in "a lewd exhibition".
What's next:
Travis County court records still list three charges for Innmon:
- Possession of 50 or more images/videos of child pornography (first-degree felony)
- Possession of child pornography with intent to promote (second-degree felony)
- 2 counts of possession/promotion of lewd visual material depicting a child (state jail felony)
Court records show he has a pre-trial hearing listed for Jan. 14, but that may change due to the federal plea and sentencing.
The Source: Information in this report comes from the US Attorney's Office and previous reporting by FOX 7 Austin and FOX Television Stations.