San Diego, CA – A St. Augustine High School teacher, Ryan Bennett Segura, has been arrested on suspicion of distributing child pornography and remains in custody following a court hearing on Tuesday.
Charges and Allegations
Segura, 27, was taken into custody last week after allegations emerged that he exchanged sexually explicit videos involving minors with an unidentified individual residing in Denver.
In a probable cause statement filed by an FBI agent, Segura allegedly admitted to sharing child sexual abuse material with the man in Denver. He further admitted that he views this type of material every few months but claimed that he stopped engaging in such activities around March 2025.
Additional Allegations
During a Tuesday court hearing, it was revealed that Segura also shared nonsexual photos of his students with a different man. According to prosecutors, Segura and the other man discussed their sexual attraction to the students as reported.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Griffith argued in court that Segura posed a significant danger to the community because of his position as a teacher, stating that he had “chosen to put himself in a profession that allows him to be around individuals with whom he is sexually attracted.”
Griffith also stated that Segura had violated the trust of his students, a promise he made when he entered the educational profession.
The other man involved in the alleged communications with Segura has not been publicly identified, and it is unclear if he faces any criminal charges. However, prosecutors noted that he holds a “public-facing job in another state.”
Defense and Court Hearing
Segura’s defense attorney, Nicholas DePento, argued that Segura could be safely released to his grandmother’s home, where his movements would be monitored by a GPS device. He denied that Segura posed any danger to the community, claiming that there would be no evidence to show that Segura had committed any physical acts against his students.
Charges and Potential Penalties
Segura is charged with distribution of images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, a crime that carries a mandatory five-year minimum sentence, with the possibility of up to 20 years in prison. He made his first appearance in court on Friday.
Professional Background
According to Segura’s LinkedIn page, he is a religion teacher and the head track and field coach at St. Augustine High School, where he has worked since 2021.
School’s Response
In response to the allegations, St. Augustine’s President Ed Hearn issued a statement last week, confirming that Segura had been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of both the criminal investigation and an internal investigation by the school.
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