Plea deal made in porn case

Kim Smith

Tuesday, July 3, 2001 | 9:35 a.m.

A former Las Vegas elementary school teacher awaiting trial on 100 counts of possession of child pornography has agreed to take a deal that will guarantee him a five to 13-year prison term.

Deputy District Attorney Tammy Peterson said John Earl Whittaker, 30, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Monday and announced he will accept a deal next week in District Court.

Whittaker was a fourth grade teacher at Dearing Elementary School near Lamb Boulevard and Boulder Highway.

The plea agreement calls for Whittaker to plead guilty to three counts of possession of child pornography and serve three consecutive sentences totaling five to 13 years in prison, Peterson said.

In exchange, Peterson said, the state will drop the remaining charges and the federal government will not pursue charges against him.

Peterson said the plea agreement was designed to guarantee Whittaker at least some prison time. Had Whittaker gone to trial and been convicted, he could have received probation on the possession of child pornography charges.

Whittaker is scheduled to enter his formal guilty plea before District Judge John McGroarty on July 9.

Peterson said a computer technician upgrading software on Whittaker's classroom computer found pornography on the computer. While investigating the matter, police found additional pornography on his home computer.

All of the pornography showed boys engaging in sexual activities, Peterson said.

Whittaker is one of eight Clark County School District employees arrested this year on sex-related charges. Six of the employees are alleged to have had sexual relations with students, and Whittaker and another teacher were charged with possession of child pornography.