By Redaccion
redaccion@latinocc.com
A former English teacher from Oxnard has been sentenced to 16 months in state prison after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Aaron Wayne Bouffard, 55, was sentenced on March 19, 2025. His sentence will run concurrently with a two-year term for violating his probation in a separate felony case.
Investigation and Discovery of Illegal Material
The investigation into Bouffard began in April 2023, when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Ventura received a tip from an online platform used for buying, selling, and storing cryptocurrency. The report indicated that a user, later identified as Bouffard, had used Bitcoin to purchase CSAM.
After obtaining a federal search warrant, HSI Ventura agents seized multiple electronic devices from the suspect’s residence in Oxnard. They found thousands of CSAM images stored on those devices.
Bouffard was arrested on September 20, 2024, by the Ventura Police Department with support from Homeland Security and the Ventura County Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force (VC-CEHTTF).
Defendant’s Criminal History and Sentencing
During a hearing on January 31, 2025, Bouffard pleaded guilty to possessing or controlling child sexual abuse material and admitted to possessing more than 600 images. However, the judge struck this aggravating factor during sentencing, despite the prosecution’s objections.
The defendant had a prior criminal record. In 2021, he was convicted of felony child endangerment, which led to his probation. As a result of that conviction, Bouffard lost his job as a teacher at Rio Mesa High School.
Deputy District Attorney Katherine Plante, from the Special Prosecutions Division of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, prosecuted the case. The prosecution had requested a four-year prison sentence, citing the severity of the crime and Bouffard’s repeat offenses.
Prosecution’s Statement on the Case
Plante emphasized the lasting harm caused by child sexual abuse material and underscored society’s duty to protect children.
“Possession of child pornography causes irreparable harm to vulnerable children,” Plante stated. “As a former teacher, parent, and felony probationer, the defendant should have understood better than anyone the responsibility we all share to protect our children.”
Ongoing Efforts Against Child Exploitation
Bouffard’s case highlights the collaborative efforts of federal and local authorities in combating child exploitation and the use of cryptocurrency in the distribution of illegal content.
Officials urged the community to report any suspicious activity related to child exploitation through the appropriate hotlines and law enforcement agencies.
