SHERMAN, Texas — A Denton man and former elementary school teacher has been indicted on federal child pornography charges in the Eastern District of Texas, officials announced.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, 24-year-old Kyle Lee Roy Francis was named in a two-count federal indictment charging him with receipt and possession of child pornography.
Prosecutors said Francis had been employed as an art teacher at Lance Thompson Elementary School within the Northwest Independent School District. He has since voluntarily resigned from his position.
In a notice sent to families, Principal Amy Lawson said Francis worked at the school from August 5, 2024, until January 14, 2026, when the district learned he was under federal investigation.
“At that time, we immediately requested and received his resignation,” Lawson wrote.
Lawson said the district conducted a standard background check at the time of hiring, which revealed no prior arrests or concerns. She added that the district fully cooperated with federal authorities and notified state agencies as required by law.
She also noted that the district’s cybersecurity team conducted a forensic review of Francis’s school-issued computer and digital activity on district systems, which did not reveal any inappropriate content.
Francis received his teaching certificate in May 2024, which is now under review by the Texas Education Agency.
Authorities said the investigation began in January and is being conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations Dallas Child Exploitation Group.
