Child porn suspect’s teaching contract not renewed with Granger School District

A Prosser man facing both state and federal charges for molestation and child pornography will not be employed as a Granger teacher next year.

Stephen J. Castilleja, 27, had been teaching first grade at Roosevelt Elementary School when he became the focus of a criminal investigation.

Castilleja was arrested on May 12.

That same day, Superintendent Margarita C. Lopez placed Castilleja on paid administrative leave “pending receipt of additional information and/or the outcome of an investigation into the matter.”

Lopez said in her letter to Castilleja that she had been notified of his arrest by law enforcement.

The letter was provided to the Tri-City Herald by district attorney Jeanie R. Tolcacher as part of a public records request.

Lopez explained that Castilleja’s forced leave was “not a form of discipline, but rather an opportunity to clarify the situation and ensure that we are providing a safe and civil learning environment to our staff and students.”

She instructed Castilleja that he was to remain off all district property and to turn in his keys.

But once the allegations against Castilleja became known, Lopez followed up with another letter May 13 telling the teacher that his employment contract would not be renewed for the 2016-17 school year.

The letter said Castilleja had failed “to demonstrate a level of judgment that meets our expectations of what is necessary for a teacher providing service to our students (i.e. conduct underlying your arrest, incarceration and pending criminal charges).”

Lopez noted that Castilleja is a provisional employee under Washington law. She gave him 10 days to file a request for reconsideration.

The district did not receive an appeal from Castilleja, according to Tolcacher.

Castilleja is charged in U.S. District Court with one count of producing child pornography. In Benton County Superior Court, he has charges of first-degree child molestation, sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of first-degree rape of a child.

Castilleja had been out custody after posting bail twice on the Superior Court cases, which allegedly involve two young boys and acts that happened years ago.

However, a federal judge this week ordered him held by the U.S. Marshal for the safety of the community and to ensure his appearance at future court hearings.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel Holland told the judge that a video found on Castilleja’s computer equipment was recorded beneath a desk in a classroom with other children present, the Yakima Herald-Republic reported.

Castilleja allegedly admitted to investigators last month that he had used a cellphone to make a video of a young boy in January 2013, and that he also had pictures of the kid.

This story was originally published June 3, 2016 at 12:59 PM with the headline "Child porn suspect’s teaching contract not renewed with Granger School District."