MACON, Ga. — A former coach and teacher at First Presbyterian Day School in Macon was sentenced for possessing child pornography, including some that involved infants and toddlers, federal prosecutors say.
Christian Baumgarth, 28, was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison followed by 25 years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia said in a press release.
They say Baumgarth — a math teacher and cross country coach between 2018 and 2023 — came on authorities' radars in the summer of 2023 as they investigated the use of encrypted apps to distribute child pornography. He was indicted on May 14.
Along with his work as a teacher, Baumgarth was a volunteer small group leader at the Northway Church student ministry from 2018 to 2023, the U.S. Attorney's Office says.
“In his role as a teacher, volunteer and coach, Mr. Baumgarth held positions of trust in the community while simultaneously exploiting the innocence of children behind closed doors,” Homeland Security Investigations special agent Steven N. Schrank said in the press release.
During the investigation, authorities searched Baumgarth's residence in Macon and seized his electronic devices. On two of Baumgarth's iPhones, they found 20 photos and 13 videos of child sexual abuse materials, prosecutors say.
They say some of the videos and photos involved infants and toddlers.
When interviewed by authorities, Baumgarth admitted to possessing child pornography and back on July 1, he pleaded guilty to one count of child pornography.
First Presbyterian Day School's head of school John Patterson issued this statement when the teacher was first arrested: "Mr. Baumgarth was terminated in August 2023, prior to the 2023-24 school year, once we learned of the pending investigation. At this point in the investigation, we have been told there is no evidence of any involvement with any FPD student. We are saddened by this situation and praying for all parties involved."
Baumgarth originally was indicted on two counts of possession and two counts of distribution, but in exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped the other charges against him.