Prosser school employee arrested after allegedly downloading child porn to his phone

A 23-year-old Prosser School District maintenance worker is accused of downloading child pornography onto his cellphone.

Benton County sheriff’s investigators also discovered non-sexual photos on Jakeb Garland-Cook’s cellphone after he was arrested.

There is no sign at this point that Garland-Cook used his temporary part-time position with the district as a groundskeeper and maintenance employee to groom or lure children, sheriff’s officials said at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

But detectives are continuing to investigate the photos found on his phone.

It’s not clear how long he worked for the district, sheriff’s detectives say other district employees, including Garland-Cook’s mother who heads the school district’s transportation department, said they were not aware that he’d downloaded child pornography.

Prosser School District Superintendent Kim Casey issued a statement Thursday saying that Garland-Cook has been fired.

“The safety and security of our students is of paramount importance to the district,” she said, noting the district is cooperating fully in the investigation.

Garland-Cook appeared by video link in Benton County Superior Court on Thursday afternoon. He is being held on suspicion of possession of child pornography and has not been formally charged with a crime.

Detectives arrested him on Wednesday after about four months of investigation that started with a tip that someone in the Prosser area had downloaded child porn, Detective Sgt. Horacio Gonzalez said during the news conference.

“We’ve been working on this case nonstop since June,” he said. “When you get the data you have to match it to a person.”

It’s not clear at this point how much pornography is allegedly involved.

Sheriff Tom Croskrey said incidents involving a school district employee are rare.

The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who recognizes Garland-Cook and witnessed any suspicious behavior to call investigators.

Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Tara Marks or Gonzalez at 509-735-6555 or the non-emergency number at 509-628-0333.