Former 'Teacher of the Year' Sentenced to Prison for Child Porn

According to Channel 4, WDIV in Detroit, a former, "Teacher of the Year," has been sentenced to prison for child pornography. A popular story in the Detroit area is finally coming to a close.

Robert Boyden was arrested in 2005 on child pornography charges just three years after receiving a "Teacher of the Year," award from the Wyandotte Public School District. The 60-year-old man was just sentenced to one year, and one day in prison after a plea bargain was reached in the case.

Robert Boyden has also been ordered to pay $5,000 in fines, and has to undergo sex offender therapy. His prison sentence is set to begin immediately.

When he was arrested, he was found with 1358 images of minors posing nude or engaged in sexual acts. He resigned from his position immediately from the Wyandotte School District where he taught special education.

The Judge in the cases has stated that the reason why he was given a plea bargain arrangement is because of the fact that the only charge against him was possession of illegal imagery. There are others that have committed worse crimes against minors that have received lighter sentences then this in the past.

His sentence is being debated in the area for a few reasons. Some people believe that his sentence is too stiff since there are others that have been sentenced for less time for trying to engage in sexual acts with minors.

Others believe that a plea bargain should not have been allowed since he had been a teacher. These people believe that he should have received a tougher sentence because of his standing in the community as being someone who should be able to be trusted by children and parents.

There have not been any children or adults that have come forth during the time between his arrest and now to charge him with personal wrong doing against them. It is not known if he ever attempted to follow up on any of his desires with children.

Wayne County in Michigan is one of the leading counties in the United States for prosecution of sexual deviance against minors. The inspiration for the show, "To Catch a Predator," was originally based off of the prosecutions that happened in Wayne County.