FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — A Fresno teacher who prosecutors say used messages to entice a minor to send sexually explicit images has pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges.
39-year-old Ray Anthony Waller of Fresno pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child sexual abuse material, and sending obscene material to a minor, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between November 2024 and February 2025, Waller communicated with a minor by sending text, voice, and iMessages that enticed the minor to create and transmit images of child sexual abuse material.
During that time, Waller was a teacher at Bullard High School.
Police arrested him at the school in February 2025.
Court documents say Waller sent obscene images of himself to the victim and convinced the victim to reciprocate with images of them engaging in sexually explicit conduct themselves.
The Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation, specifically the Fresno Police Department with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa is prosecuting the case.
Waller is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff on December 14th, when he faces up to 15 to 30 years in prison and a potential $250,000 fine for the child exploitation charge.
He also faces between 5 and 20 years for the child sexual abuse images and a potential $250,000 fine.
For transmitting obscene material to a minor, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a potential $250,000 fine.