TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Tallahassee music teacher has been sentenced to 20 years in jail for having a sexual relationship with his 13-year-old student and producing and possessing child pornography.
Nicholas Hughes, 34, of Tallahassee, was sentenced to 240 months in prison Friday for enticement of a minor, production, and possession of child pornography, after being convicted on January 4 following a two-day trial.
Hughes and the victim communicated through in-person visits, telephone calls, text messages, and social media applications, including sending pornographic pictures. A forensic review of Hughes’s laptop computer and external hard drive revealed dozens of images and videos of child pornography.
“Children see their teachers as role models and mentors, and in this tragic case, the defendant took advantage of that trust," said U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe. "Together with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we will pursue child predators and bring them to justice.”
The case was investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and other members of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
“Florida’s families should be able to feel confident that their children are safe at school. The violation of that trust here is despicable and has no place in our community," said FDLE Tallahassee Regional Operations Center Special Agent in Charge Mark Perez.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Daffin and Christopher Thielemann.
