According to a DCSO press release, Kevin Ronald Sidden, 37, of 485 Forest Creek Drive in Winston-Salem, is facing three counts of third degree sexual exploitation of a minor following a month-long investigation involving solicitation of a high school student and possession of child pornography. DCSO detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at Sidden’s residence near Wallburg, seizing computers that authorities allege “possess numerous images of child pornography.”
“We were involved in the investigation because the computers involved in the case were in Davidson County,” Sheriff David Grice said. “We just did our end over here due to our jurisdiction. We didn’t conduct the initial investigation.”
On Jan. 7, the Davie County Sheriff’s Office received a report that an employee of DCHS solicited a high school student. During the investigation, Davie County detectives determined that there was an issue with child pornography possibly being on Sidden’s home computer. The information was passed on to Davidson County Sheriff’s detectives due to Sidden’s residence.
DCSO detectives received the information on Feb. 2 and obtained a search warrant for the content of the computers and other digital media belonging to Sidden. Detectives, as part of the Piedmont Internet Crimes Against Children (PICAC), allege that Sidden did have child pornography images on those computers.
“Apparently he was downloading images off the Internet,” said Grice. “I don’t know what the nature of the images were.”
Sidden was released from custody after being issued a $5,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in Davidson County District Court on April 12. Sidden was not charged with solicitation of a minor by the Davie County Sheriff’s Office, who stated in a press release that their original investigation is concluded, determining that “the allegations did not rise to the level of criminal charges being filed.” Sidden has been suspended with pay while Davie County Schools conducts its own investigation. He has been at DCHS since 2008.
Sidden’s arrest marked the third such incident in Davie County Schools. In January, Eric Reeder, a English teacher at Davie County Early College High School, was arrested in Winston-Salem for allegedly peeping into a bathroom stall at a Barnes and Noble bookstore. In December, Douglas Ebersback, a William Ellis Middle School teacher, was charged with two counts of statutory rape, four counts of third degree sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of indecent liberties with a minor and one count of breaking and entering.
Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 888-3578, or duke@tvilletimes.com.
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