ICE arrests former El Paso music teacher on child pornography charges
The public is encouraged to contact HSI about possible additional victims related to this case
EL PASO, Texas — A former El Paso-area music teacher, who was employed by various local schools since 1995, remains in federal custody following his arrest earlier this month for allegedly possessing child pornography.
This case is being investigated by U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Albert Buck Hibbert, 43, was arrested April 3 after he gave consent to HSI special agents to search his home and personal computers. A forensic preview of his laptop computer revealed images of children between 3 and 10 years old being sexually exploited.
HSI special agents are asking for the public's help to identify any possible additional victims related to this investigation.
Hibbert worked for the El Paso Independent School District between 1995 and 2007 at Austin and Burges high schools. From 2007 to 2008, he taught in the Ysleta Independent School District at Eastwood High School, and for the Ruidoso Municipal Schools at Sierra Vista Primary and White Mountain Elementary between 2009 and 2010. Most recently, between 2010 and 2012, Hibbert taught at El Paso Academy East. He is currently unemployed.
According to court documents, Hibbert admitted he was attracted to 8- to 16-year-old girls, and that he searched for pictures of them in their underwear and swimsuits.
Hibbert is charged with possessing child pornography. He waived a preliminary and detention hearing set for April 17; he remains in federal custody awaiting trial.
"HSI special agents have ongoing efforts to identify and arrest individuals who use their positions of trust to perpetrate crimes against innocent children," said Dennis A. Ulrich, special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. "We urge members of the public to contact us if they have any information related to the sexual exploitation of children, for this or any case."
Call the HSI El Paso Victim Assistance phone line at (915) 231-3364, or (toll free) 1-855-542-0952.
This investigation was conducted under HSI's Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including producing and distributing online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking children. In fiscal year 2013, HSI agents arrested more than 2,000 individuals under this initiative.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.
For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI's Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.
HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.
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