Pasco teacher used AI to generate child porn from yearbook photos, deputies say – Tampa Bay Times

A teacher at Beacon Christian Academy in New Port Richey was arrested Tuesday after deputies say he used artificial intelligence to generate child pornography based on yearbook photos of students at the school.

Steven Houser, 67, of New Port Richey, is a third grade science teacher at the school, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. After receiving a tip, deputies began an investigation that found Houser possessed two photos and three videos containing child pornography, the news release states.

The sheriff’s office said the child pornography did not feature any students at the school.

Houser also possessed child pornography generated by AI, the news release states. Deputies say he admitted to using yearbook photos of three students to generate the images.

Beacon Christian Academy did not answer a phone call from the Tampa Bay Times on Tuesday seeking comment about Houser’s arrest or whether he was still employed at the school.

Houser was being held Tuesday at the Pasco County Jail. His bond information was not immediately available.

There are no reports of additional victims, the news release states. Anyone who believes they may be a victim can contact the sheriff’s office tip line at 1-800-706-2488, or report tips online at PascoSheriff.com/tips.