Seattle childcare worker charged in child pornography probe
HSI working with childcare center to provide information to parents
SEATTLE - A childcare worker was arrested Friday and charged in a federal criminal complaint with possession of child pornography, following a probe by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Kyle J. Tate, 34, of Seattle was arrested following the execution of a search warrant at his home. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle Friday afternoon and was ordered detained pending a hearing next week.
According to records filed in the case, Tate came to the attention of HSI special agents earlier this week when another individual implicated him in the collection and sharing of child pornography. Due to Tate’s employment in childcare, investigators moved quickly to get a warrant to search his home and digital devices. An initial review of those devices revealed images of child pornography.
At the time of his arrest Tate worked at the Hutch Kids Childcare Center. According to the investigation to date, Tate previously worked at other childcare programs in the Seattle area and as a music tutor. Law enforcement is working to identify these previous employers and provide them appropriate information.
HSI asks that anyone who has concerns or information that may be relevant to this case to email their contact information to hsiseattletips@ice.dhs.gov.
“I commend HSI and the Seattle Police Department for their investigative work that led to the arrest of this defendant,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. “Their efforts are essential to public safety in our communities and especially to protecting our children.”
“We’re still in the very preliminary stages of this investigation, but obviously a top priority in all cases involving alleged online child exploitation is identifying any possible minor victims,” said Brad Bench, special agent in charge for HSI Seattle. “We encourage parents who have questions or concerns regarding this investigation to contact the email that’s been established expressly for that purpose. HSI special agents will be monitoring that inbox closely and will respond promptly to all inquiries.”
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The Seattle Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) is providing substantial assistance with this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Matthew Hampton and Special Assistant U. S. Attorney Cecelia Gregson. Ms. Gregson is a Senior Deputy King County Prosecutor specially designated to prosecute child exploitation cases in federal court.
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