Worthington school, church volunteer arrested for possession of child porn

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Worthington volunteer teacher is behind bars and facing federal charges after officials say they found him in possession of child pornography.

According to the school's website, they are a non-profit, private school teaching grades K-8.

The Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force opened an investigation into 49-year-old Andrew Brown after he was downloading from an undercover computer used to find child porn material.

According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 26, 2023 through Nov. 1, 2023, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force started an investigation into Brown. They say they found over 1000 images from Brown’s IP address during that timeframe.

On April 30, 2024, the Franklin County ICAC conducted a search warrant, charging Brown with two counts of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor to advertise or distribute.

Investigators say Brown confessed to downloading child porn. According to court records, he says he is from Jamaica and watched child porn in that country.

Authorities seized 21 devices inside his apartment on Broad Meadows Boulevard in north Columbus.

ABC 6 went to the address, and it is listed is the same address as Worthington Adventist Academy. The principal there is Mrs. Delthonette Gordon–Brown.

The school’s information officer tells us they are aware of the incident and that they alerted parents at the school and church. They say Brown was never an employee of the school or church, only a volunteer; they also stressed that no student in the school or church was abused by him.

School officials say he did pass a background check for both the academy and the church, and they are currently working with investigators.

Brown is due back in court for a federal hearing next week.