Former elementary school teacher sentenced to 5 years in prison for possessing child pornography

SAN JOSE – Robert Krietzman was sentenced today to five years in prison and ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution for possession of child pornography following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Beth L. Freeman, U.S. District Court Judge.

Krietzman, 53, of Watsonville, Calif., pleaded guilty today to possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4). According to the plea agreement, Krietzman admitted to possessing over 600 images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Many of the images depicted prepubescent female children engaged in masturbation, sexual intercourse with adult males, or in bondage. The images were discovered in May of 2016 by Santa Cruz Police detectives executing a search warrant at Krietzman’s home in Watsonville. The case was later referred for federal prosecution. Krietzman was a credentialed first grade teacher in Watsonville at the time the images were located on electronic devices in his home.

Krietzman was charged by information on September 6, 2017, with one count of possession of child pornography. Pursuant to his plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to the count.

In addition to the prison term and restitution, Judge Freeman also sentenced the defendant to a five-year period of supervised release and required him to pay a $5,100 special assessment fee. The Court also imposed forfeiture of all devices recovered from Krietzman’s home containing child pornography. Judge Freeman also ordered Krietzman to register as a sex offender and participate in sex offender treatment and counseling. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody to begin serving his sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marissa Harris is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Susan Kreider. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the HSI and the Santa Cruz Police Department.