BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – The Boulder County Sheriff\u2019s Office (BCSO) announced on Tuesday that a man who worked at multiple Colorado schools over more than a decade, most recently teaching in Arvada, had been arrested on dozens of sexual exploitation of a child charges, accused of creating and uploading explicit material involving juveniles.<\/p>\n
According to the sheriff\u2019s office, 39-year-old Patricio Alejandro Illanes was arrested on Monday. Officials said their investigation started in September 2025 after detectives received three cybertips from Meta about an account owned by Illanes that had been reported for creating and selling sexually explicit content.<\/p>\n
Law enforcement said a search of Illanes\u2019 cell phone led to the discovery of multiple videos of individuals who appeared to be juveniles engaging in sexually explicit acts, and those videos had been shared on various messaging apps and paid subscription pornography websites.<\/p>\n
The sheriff\u2019s office said investigators determined that Illanes had \u201cphotographed and filmed juveniles who were asked to \u2018perform a script\u2019 in front of a green screen mimicking a hypnotic state,\u201d and that those videos and images were then edited by Illanes for sexual gratification.<\/p>\n
BCSO said four out-of-state individuals have been interviewed related to this investigation so far, and all of those individuals have confirmed that they were minors during their \u201chypnotic role-play sessions.\u201c Investigators said those incidents included victims removing clothing and performing sexually explicit acts at Illanes\u2019 instruction. Officials also said additional \u201dhypnosis-like\u201d photos were found that appeared to depict clothed students in a school setting.<\/p>\n
Illanes was arrested on 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a child – creates material, 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a child – publishes\/sells\/distributes, 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a child – possession with intent to distribute, and 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a child – producing a performance, all Class 3 Felony charges. He was also arrested on 10 counts of unlawful practice of occupation or profession, a Class 2 Misdemeanor.<\/p>\n
When the report was received, officials said Illanes was serving as an English teacher at Arvada Senior High School. BCSO said he was placed on administrative leave \u201cswiftly\u201d when the school was notified, and has since been terminated.<\/p>\n
Investigators said they are now seeking more information from any current or former students and co-workers of Illanes who might have additional information related to their investigation.<\/p>\n
The following is a list of programs and schools BCSO said Illanes was known to have access to students at:<\/p>\n
2010-2015: City of Longmont Children and Youth Services, Longmont, CO2013-2025: TGTHR (formerly known as Attention Homes) in Boulder and Longmont, CO2013-2017: New Meridian Alternative High School (formerly known as Olde Columbine) Longmont, CO2015-2021: Longmont Library \u2013 Children and Teens Section, Longmont, CO2017-2019: Centaurus High School, Lafayette, CO2019-2020: Mapleton School District (intern), Denver, CO2019-2023: Erie Middle School, Erie, CO2019-2023: Erie High School, Erie, CO2024-2025: Arvada Senior High School, Arvada, CO<\/p>\n
Investigators are asking if you or your child may have been a victim of Illanes, contact the law enforcement agency where the incident took place:<\/p>\n
Arvada Police Department – call dispatch at 303-980-7300Boulder County Sheriff\u2019s Office (unincorporated Boulder County, Lyons, Nederland, or Superior) – call Detective Sophie Berman at 720-564-2678Boulder Police Department – call the Boulder Police Tip Line at 303-441-1974. Please provide a way for an investigator to return your call.Erie Police Department – call 303-441-4444 and press 2 for the Erie Police Department. Please reference case report 26-004.Lafayette Police Department – contact Detective Anna Curran at 303-604-3504 or anna.curran@lafayetteco.govLongmont Public Safety – call Sergeant Todd Chambers at 303-651-8521<\/p>\n
BCSO said several agencies both in and outside of Colorado have assisted in the investigation, including include the Arvada Police Department, Erie Police Department, Lafayette Police Department, Longmont Department of Public Safety, Deschutes County Sheriff\u2019s Office (OR), Washington County Sheriff\u2019s Office (OR), Hinckley Police Department (OH) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.<\/p>\n
According to online jail records, Illanes was still in custody at the Boulder County jail early Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
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