Former teacher, coach sentenced on child porn charges

A former substitute teacher and assistant coach for the Blackhawk School District in Beaver County was sentenced on child pornography offenses.

In a release, the Beaver County District Attorney said Joshua Andrews, 31, of Beaver Falls, was sentenced Wednesday by Judge Kim Tesla to an aggregate five to 10 years in prison for five counts of dissemination of child pornography.

Andrews’ sentence is part of a plea agreement and he’ll also have to register as a sex offender for 25 years.

The investigation started in June 2022, District Attorney David Lozier said. State police received a tip that Andrews had been uploading child porn to the internet. The uploads were allegedly traced to Andrews’ Beaver County home, as well as a local school. Andrews was arrested in October 2022.

In an interview with state police, Andrews allegedly admitted to viewing child porn for at least eight years and using multiple email addresses to distribute child porn.

Andrews told police he worked at Highland Middle School as a substitute teacher and an assistant coach for the cross country team. He also said he was a counselor for adults with autism and with children through a local church.

State police searched Andrews’ devices and said they found thousands of images and videos of child porn. Police said there were also images of children Andrews knew through church and school.

Mr. Lozier said Andrews obtained the photos of the children he knew without their knowledge and would alter them to be sexually explicit before uploading them to the internet.

One of the victims provided a statement at Andrews’ sentencing, addressing how the experience has impacted her for the rest of her life.

Andrews is not eligible for early release. He will also be required to undergo sex offender treatment and education while imprisoned. He is also not allowed to have any contact with children.