LOS ANGELES -- A teacher at Bancroft Middle School in Hollywood has been arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography, and Los Angeles police are trying to determine if other children have had "inappropriate contact or communication" with him.
Barry Klein, a teacher at the school since 2001, was booked Friday on suspicion of possession of child pornography when he turned himself in to the Los Angeles Police Department, police officials said Wednesday.
LAPD detectives are also looking into whether the San Fernando Valley resident, who used the screen name "MrRedHeadBear" was communicating with minors online via an Internet instant messaging service for sexual purposes.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the images were found when Klein took his laptop to school to be fixed. School officials reported it to police.
The sources said investigators were particularly concerned because the images depicted children of roughly the same age as his students.
Officials with the Los Angeles Unified School District said in a statement Wednesday that the allegation against Klein was brought to the attention of district officials in April 2010 and that Klein was immediately removed from the campus and "housed at a non-school location."
District officials said it was highly unlikely that any of the images found were those of LAUSD students and that Klein is suspended without pay until the case is completed.
Bancroft Middle School, a performing arts magnet, has about 1,400 students and 55 teachers. Klein is listed on the school's website as a special education teacher.
Barry Klein, a teacher at the school since 2001, was booked Friday on suspicion of possession of child pornography when he turned himself in to the Los Angeles Police Department, police officials said Wednesday.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the images were found when Klein took his laptop to school to be fixed. School officials reported it to police.
The sources said investigators were particularly concerned because the images depicted children of roughly the same age as his students.
Officials with the Los Angeles Unified School District said in a statement Wednesday that the allegation against Klein was brought to the attention of district officials in April 2010 and that Klein was immediately removed from the campus and "housed at a non-school location."
District officials said it was highly unlikely that any of the images found were those of LAUSD students and that Klein is suspended without pay until the case is completed.
Bancroft Middle School, a performing arts magnet, has about 1,400 students and 55 teachers. Klein is listed on the school's website as a special education teacher.
