A teacher at the exclusive Taft School in Watertown has been sentenced to five years in prison for child pornography possession and distribution.
The FBI took Richard Doyle, 65, went to his Litchfield home in December 2012 and took him into custody. He was sentenced on Tuesday and a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office says he had more than 4,000 images.
A law enforcement agent logged into a public internet file sharing program on Oct. 24 and Oct. 27 and downloaded images depicting child pornography from shared directories maintained by Doyle, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
FBI agents seized computers, thumb drives, and other computer components from Doyle's home and from The Taft School.
According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Doyle admitted that he had been viewing child pornography since the 1970s and directed FBI agents to a plastic container hidden under his workbench that held thumb drives with child porn.
A news release from the U.S. Attorney's office says Doyle had more than 4,000 images on computers and thumb drives in addition to magazines that were in the attic.
Doyle was placed on administrative leave from The Taft School Tuesday after state police contacted school administrators, according to a statement released by the school.
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"There is no indication, at this time, that any of our students were involved or at risk at any time," the statement read.
Doyle is charged with receipt, distribution and possession of child pornography.
He was released on a $200,000 bond and was living with family members until he was ordered to report to prison on July 7.