The superintendent of the Altoona School District has been indicted on charges of sex trafficking of a minor and production of child pornography.
A press release from U.S. Attorney Scott C. Blader of the Western District of Wisconsin said Superintendent Daniel Peggs, 32, was charged in an indictment by a federal grand jury Feb. 12. The release said the indictment was unsealed after Peggs was arrested Thursday.
It alleges that between October 2015 and May 2016, Peggs “recruited and maintained an individual knowing that the individual was a minor and would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act.”
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The indictment also alleges that in December 2015, Peggs used an iPhone to produce a video of child pornography.
Blader said, in the release, that the conduct Peggs is charged with doesn’t involve a student from the Altoona School District. Peggs has been brought to Madison for an initial court appearance before Magistrate Judge Stephen L. Crocker in U.S. District Court at 1:30 p.m.
“The charges against Peggs are the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation,” Blader wrote. “The Altoona Police Department assisted during Peggs’ arrest today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the prosecution.”
If convicted, Peggs will face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison for sex trafficking a minor, according to the release. The charge for production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years.
Blader said the investigation was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. He ended the release with a reminder that the charges against Peggs are “merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”
A press release from the Altoona School District states that the district was informed by local police around 7 a.m. that Peggs had been arrested and was indicted on federal charges. The district said administration is working with the school board “to look at our next steps” and no further comments will be made at this time.
“We realize this is a tremendous shock to the Altoona community,” wrote spokeswoman Joyce Orth. “We appreciate your cooperation as we provide our best for our students.”
Orth said that an emergency, closed session school board meeting will be held at noon Thursday.
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