A University City High School teacher pleaded not guilty on Nov. 21 to a grand jury indictment that alleges he possessed visual depictions of child pornography along with attempted enticement of a minor.
Sean Stevenson, 58, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Magistrate Bernie Skomal to answer to the two-count federal grand jury indictment. The indictment replaces the need for a preliminary hearing that had been set for Nov. 21.
Skomal ordered Stevenson to next appear in court on Dec. 18 to set a trial date and to file motions.
Stevenson allegedly thought he was talking to a prostitute but was actually speaking to an undercover officer with the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, which picked up Stevenson’s previous phone call with a prostitute who had been arrested.
A new charge alleges he “knowingly possessed” visual depictions of a minor under the age of 12 who had engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The charge alleges the visual depictions were found on a cellphone and two thumb drives, according to court records.
The charge is federal because the technology was mailed, shipped, and transported in interstate commerce and through a computer.
Stevenson taught science at University City High School, but the case has nothing to do with his job. He was arrested on Oct. 24 and a judge ordered him detained without bail on Oct. 31 in the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
The investigation started on April 9 when a minor who was identified as a 16-year-old sex trafficking victim was hit by a car and her phone was stolen. Her pimp and another woman were also arrested for assault and taking her phone. Stevenson had left a message on the other woman’s phone, according to court documents.
An undercover officer called Stevenson and pretended to be the same woman he called and asked if he was still looking for a sexual encounter they last talked about. Stevenson replied, “Younger, yes. I’ll pay well,” Stevenson was quoted as saying.
The officer asked him if he was still interested in her 16-year-old cousin, and Stevenson replied, “I’m interested in her for sure!” according to a transcript in records.
Stevenson offered to pay $140 for oral sex without a condom with the 16-year-old cousin in his car and showed up on Oct. 24 in the 5300 block of El Cajon Boulevard. where he was told to meet. A search of his car uncovered $140 in cash with a black Samsung smartphone, which rang after an officer called it, according to records.
