Former teacher's aide charged in child pornography case

ROSENBERG, Texas (FOX 26) - 51-year-old Joe Ross was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography on Friday. At the time of his arrest, deputies did not know that he worked as a teacher's aide at Pink Elementary School, a Lamar Consolidated Independent School District campus in Richmond.

Shortly after deputies took Ross into custody, he revealed to investigators that in addition to possessing thousands of photos of nude children in sexually suggestive positions, he also inappropriately touched at least three children.

Charges have not been filed against Ross for touching the children, but the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office says the investigation is still open and parents are encouraged to ask their children if they had any inappropriate contact with him.

Ross may have still been teaching at Pink Elementary if it wasn't for the efforts of the Fort Bend County Child Pornography Task Force.

A statement released by Lamar CISD indicates that Ross was fired on Friday and that the school is taking the investigation very seriously.

Concerned parents expressed their outrage.

"It makes me feel angry, it's disgusting," said Kathy Matthews, who lives within walking distance of the school. "Why little children, school-aged kids? Those kids are trying to learn, what he did was very much wrong and I'm glad he's in jail." 

Ross is in custody at the Fort Bend County Jail on a bond of $40,000.