A popular music teacher who taught in public and charter schools and districts from Renton to Tacoma was arrested by Homeland Security agents Friday morning and charged with possession of child pornography.
Christopher Scott Newcombe, 35, was charged with using the KIK sharing app to allegedly transmit sexually explicit images of young boys. Federal prosecutors say they were alerted by KIK of the transmitted images in November, 2018.
Currently, Newcombe was teaching in the Renton School District, splitting time between Renton's Cascade Elementary and Tiffany Park Elementary. Newcombe also led a foundation in his name which provided grants and paid for musical instruments for kids who couldn't afford them.
Parents of students at Tiffany Park were stunned and saddened by the news. "It's shocking because he was a great teacher," said Loto Huff, whose children were taught by Newcombe. "I met him and he's like a laid-back cool guy. He's a great teacher."
Newcombe was hired as a permanent substitute music teacher six weeks ago in Renton, according to school district spokesperson Randy Matheson. "A Homeland Security officer walked into our principal's office, sits down and says we have this individual in custody we arrested him at his home far away from school but he's not coming to school today," Matheson said. "Our kids weren't in danger as far as we know, and they certainly won't be in danger moving forward because he won't return to the classroom."
"It’s just disbelief," said parent Anthony Hollis. "I mean you never know who's doing what, but he actually taught our kids."
Renton and Federal Way schools said Newcombe passed extensive FBI and Washington State Patrol background checks and he had a spotless criminal record.
Homeland Security is offering parents and others with concerns or questions for law enforcement agents a dedicated phone line at 206-442-1469
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