Maui teacher charged in state with child sex exploitation

WAILUKU, Hawaii — A Maui High School teacher is charged in Washington state with taking sexual pictures of a 4-year-old girl.

KITV reported Whitman County officials said a hearing for Thomas Takeuchi is scheduled for August.

The 60-year-old social studies teacher and football referee was arrested at an Oregon airport in May. He is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor.

KITV reported a woman in Pullman told authorities she found sexual pictures of her 4-year-old daughter on her camera. Authorities say the girl told her mother Takeuchi took the photos in October.

The Maui News reported Hawaii Department of Education officials don’t know why Takeuchi was away from the islands, but said he wasn’t on any school or education department business.

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