CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A Clarksville man who was in the process of being hired as a substitute teacher was arrested last week and charged with possession of child pornography.
Austin Kidd, 27, was arrested March 17 at his home by agents of Homeland Security Investigations, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart. He is being held in custody pending trial.
In March 2020, HSI Nashville received a tip about Kidd’s internet activity. Agents identified a Facebook account, “ShadowPhoenix24,” as belonging to Kidd and identified IP addresses associated with his home address, according to a news release.
In August 2019, a foreign law enforcement agency notified the FBI of an IP address in San Antonio, Texas, that was used to access online child porn. This address was found to have been occupied by Kidd, the release said. Kidd’s IP address had also accessed The Onion Router (TOR) network, an anonymizing network that masks IP addresses and is commonly used when accessing child pornography.
Agents seized Kidd’s cell phone and other media storage devices. To date, approximately 260 suspected images and videos depicting child sexual abuse have been identified on the devices, the release said.
The complaint further alleges that Kidd is in the final hiring process to become a substitute teacher for middle school children.
If convicted, Kidd faces up to 20 years in prison.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Morrison.