By By Kerry Whipple Bean
publisher
W.S. Neal High School special education teacher Larry Tindell now faces charges of possession of child pornography, in addition to charges of possession and distribution of a controlled substance.
Investigators said they found still images of child pornography at Tindell’s house after a search of his residence following his arrest Tuesday on a grand jury indictment for the drug charges.
Sheriff Grover Smith said the images appeared to have been from magazines or images that were mailed to him, but he said investigators do not believe that the photos involve local children.
Smith said each charge could carry one to 10 years in prison if Tindell is convicted.
Tindell, 48, of 4014 Ridge Road, appeared for a bond hearing Wednesday afternoon at the Escambia County Courthouse. Judge Bert Rice set bond on the pornography charges at $100,000 for each of three counts, raising Tindell’s total bond to $425,000 on all of the charges. He remained in jail as of Friday.
In addition to teaching at W.S. Neal for 11 years, Tindell has been a part-time adult education instructor at Jefferson Davis Community College for several years.
Escambia County Schools Superintendent Billy Hines could not make a comment on Tindell’s status Thursday, but said the school board would have to make any decision about Tindell’s employment. “The school board will act in the best interest of the Escambia County students,” Hines said.
Law enforcement officials said an undercover investigation led to Tindell’s indictment on drug charges after they received tips he had given the prescription painkiller Lortab to other teenagers.
During the undercover investigation, Tindell allegedly distributed Lortab to a 19-year-old man, officials said.
Following the drug arrest, law enforcement officials searched Tindell’s office at the high school and his home.
Computers were confiscated at both places.
Investigators have said Tindell distributed drugs to several young men age 16 or older, but the charges in the indictment include one count of distribution and one count of possession.
In court Wednesday, Tindell told Rice he had a prescription for the Lortab, but the judge told Tindell he could not get into any specifics because the hearing was simply to set bond.