A federal case involving a former San Jose Christian high school employee has taken a major turn, nearly three years after his arrest first brought the allegations to light. What investigators uncovered involved online communications, electronic payments and teenage victims connected to two South Bay schools.
On September 22, 2026, Todd Baldwin, 46, pleaded guilty to four federal offenses. His plea agreement also includes admissions concerning additional uncharged conduct, giving prosecutors a broader account of what they say happened between 2021 and 2023.
Todd Baldwin admitted paying four teenage boys
The case centres on conduct that prosecutors said took place between approximately October 2021 and August 2023.
According to Baldwin’s plea agreement, he used internet services including Snapchat, Venmo and Gmail to communicate with minors and persuade them to create child sexual abuse material. The victims included students at Valley Christian High School in San Jose and Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill.
Baldwin was working as an operations manager at Valley Christian High School during the period in question. Prosecutors said he became acquainted with at least one of the victims through his position at the school.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California said Baldwin admitted paying four boys, all aged 16 or 17, thousands of dollars through electronic money transfers.
“Specifically, Baldwin admitted that he paid four boys, aged 16 and 17, thousands of dollars via Venmo and CashApp money transfers to create child pornography images and videos for him. Baldwin told some of the boys that he would resell the images and videos to buyers online.”
Prosecutors also said Baldwin solicited and collected underwear and other clothing belonging to boys for resale.
The plea agreement therefore describes conduct involving more victims than were identified when the federal case was first brought. Baldwin has admitted to the conduct underlying the four federal counts to which he pleaded guilty, while also admitting online enticement involving two additional victims whose conduct was not charged separately.
More True Crime: A Tulsa mother watched in horror as a man allegedly walked off with her 1-year-old from her shopping cart. For more, read our story on the Marshall Dixon Tulsa Walmart Kidnapping Attempt.
The investigation began after authorities received information in 2023
The investigation originated with the San Jose Police Department before eventually involving the FBI.
Baldwin was arrested in San Jose in August 2023 after investigators received information that a Valley Christian employee possessed illegal digital material involving juveniles.
Police searched locations connected to Baldwin, including his home and workplace. Federal investigators later obtained additional search warrants involving his electronic accounts and devices.
According to prosecutors, devices seized from his home contained child sexual abuse material. The Justice Department said Baldwin also admitted possessing such material as part of his plea agreement.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the San Jose Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Squad, while federal prosecutors handled the case.
What the timeline shows
| Date / Period | Development |
| Approximately October 2021–August 2023 | Prosecutors said Baldwin used online services and payment platforms to persuade minors to create illegal material. |
| August 2023 | Baldwin was arrested in San Jose after investigators received information concerning illegal digital material involving juveniles. |
| November 19, 2024 | An Information charging Baldwin was filed in federal court. |
| September 22, 2026 | Baldwin pleaded guilty to two counts of online child enticement and two counts of receiving child pornography. |
| January 26, 2027, 8:30 a.m. | Federal sentencing hearing scheduled before U.S. District Judge Beth L. Freeman. |
More Legal Cases: A child’s own diary entries became the evidence that finally exposed years of hidden abuse. For more, check out our coverage of Joseph Lin’s Indianapolis Conviction on 10 Charges.
Prosecutors said Baldwin intended to resell the material online
Earlier court documents provided additional context about how Baldwin allegedly described the arrangement to some of the teenagers.
According to reporting based on the federal complaint, Baldwin told one teenage boy that the material could be sold online and that proceeds would be divided.
Investigators also found financial transactions involving payments to victims. One teenager received thousands of dollars through electronic payments, while another also received payments after becoming involved in the arrangement.
The federal investigation later uncovered additional communications, images and videos associated with the case.
Earlier court documents also said Baldwin purchased equipment for at least one teenager in connection with creating the material.
The allegations developed into a federal prosecution that ultimately involved four charged offenses. Baldwin has now pleaded guilty to those four counts rather than taking the case to trial.
Baldwin’s role at Valley Christian High School became central to the case
Baldwin’s employment at Valley Christian High School is an important part of the case because prosecutors said he became acquainted with at least one victim through his work there.
He was employed as an operations manager. Earlier reporting also described him as having worked at the school in other roles, including as a teaching assistant and sports coach.
The alleged conduct occurred while Baldwin was employed at the school.
After the allegations became public, Valley Christian Schools issued a statement addressing the former employee and the steps the school said it took after learning about the matter.
“Valley Christian Schools is aware of the deeply troubling allegations involving a former employee, which are diametrically opposed to our values and the teachings of Jesus Christ. When we were made aware of this matter in August 2023, we acted swiftly, terminating the individual and fully cooperating with law enforcement and we have continued to cooperate with authorities as this legal process unfolds.”
The school continued:
“The safety and well-being of our students has always been, and remains, one of our highest priorities. Valley Christian Schools follows rigorous hiring standards, which exceed the standards required under state law, and regularly reviews and strengthens safety protocols. Well before this, we implemented proactive programs to educate staff, students and parents on potential threats to protect those within our community and will continue to do so.”
Valley Christian Schools said it could not comment further while the legal proceedings were ongoing and expressed support for those affected.
The federal prosecution expanded after Baldwin’s 2023 arrest
Baldwin’s arrest came in 2023, but the federal prosecution developed over the following year.
The Justice Department said Baldwin was initially charged through a criminal complaint. He was later charged through an Information filed on November 19, 2024.
At that earlier stage, prosecutors alleged that Baldwin had persuaded two teenage boys to create illegal material in exchange for money.
The investigation subsequently identified additional victims and evidence. The September 2026 plea agreement now records Baldwin’s admissions concerning the four charged counts, as well as additional uncharged conduct involving two other victims.
That progression is important when describing the case. The original federal allegations involved two identified teenage victims, while Baldwin’s later guilty plea covers four federal counts and includes admissions concerning additional uncharged conduct.
Baldwin pleaded guilty to four federal offenses
The September 22 proceeding changed the status of the case significantly.
Rather than proceeding to a jury trial, Baldwin pleaded guilty to:
- Two counts of online child enticement
- Two counts of receipt of child pornography
He also admitted online enticement involving two additional uncharged victims and admitted possessing illegal material on electronic devices seized during the investigation.
The guilty plea means Baldwin has formally admitted guilt to the four federal counts listed in his Information. This differs from the earlier stage of the case, when the conduct consisted of allegations that had not yet been adjudicated.
The federal government therefore will not need to prove those four charged offenses at a jury trial.
Baldwin remains under home detention before sentencing
Despite the guilty plea, Baldwin has not yet received his final prison sentence.
Federal prosecutors say he is currently out on bond under stringent conditions, including electronic monitoring and home detention.
His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 26, 2027, at 8:30 a.m. The hearing will take place before U.S. District Judge Beth L. Freeman.
Baldwin faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum statutory sentence of life imprisonment.
He could also face a fine of up to $250,000, as well as special assessments and restitution to victims.
The eventual sentence will be determined by the court after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statute and federal sentencing guidelines.
That distinction matters: September 22 marked Baldwin’s guilty plea, not the conclusion of sentencing. The January 2027 hearing is when the court is scheduled to determine his final sentence.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood
The Justice Department is prosecuting the case under its Project Safe Childhood initiative.
Launched in 2006, Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide Justice Department initiative focused on combating the online sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
The programme brings together federal, state and local agencies to investigate people accused of exploiting children online, identify victims and pursue federal prosecutions.
In Baldwin’s case, the investigation involved the FBI and the San Jose Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Squad.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marissa Harris, with assistance from Sahib Kaur and Lynette Dixon.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble.
What happens next in the Todd Baldwin case?
The next major development will be Baldwin’s federal sentencing hearing in January 2027.
Until that hearing, he remains subject to home detention and electronic monitoring under the conditions of his bond.
The court will determine his final sentence after considering the federal sentencing framework and the facts established through his guilty plea. Federal law provides for a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment for the offenses to which he pleaded guilty.
The case has therefore moved well beyond its original 2023 investigation. Baldwin, once employed as an operations manager at Valley Christian High School, has now pleaded guilty to four federal offenses and admitted additional uncharged conduct involving two other victims, as well as possession of illegal material found on devices seized from his home.
More Crime Headlines: A mother’s conviction over letting her son walk alone to a pond has ignited a nationwide debate on parenting freedom. For more, read our report on the Virginia Mom’s Childhood Independence Case
Conclusion
The September 22, 2026 guilty plea represents the latest major stage in a federal case that began with Baldwin’s August 2023 arrest in San Jose. Prosecutors say the investigation uncovered conduct involving teenage victims, online communications, electronic payments and material that Baldwin told some victims he intended to resell to online buyers.
Baldwin has now admitted guilt to two counts of online child enticement and two counts of receiving child pornography. His sentencing remains ahead, with the hearing scheduled for January 26, 2027, when the court will determine his final punishment within the applicable federal sentencing framework.
Disclaimer
This article has been prepared based on thorough research of the sources provided with the original material, including the U.S. Department of Justice, Northern District of California; CBS San Francisco; San Francisco Chronicle; NBC Bay Area; Valley Christian Schools’ statement as reported by KRON4; and San Jose Police-related reporting on Baldwin’s 2023 arrest. The article reflects the information available from those provided sources and the verified material supplied for this report and does not imply independent verification beyond that material. Details involving minors have been limited to information necessary to understand the criminal case, with no identifying information about the victims included.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Justice, Northern District of California: September 22, 2026 guilty plea announcement
- CBS San Francisco: Baldwin guilty plea and federal case background
- San Francisco Chronicle: Detailed reporting on the plea and investigation
- NBC Bay Area: Former San Jose school manager pleads guilty
- Valley Christian Schools statement as reported by KRON4
- San Jose Police-related reporting on the 2023 arrest
Featured Image Credit: San Jose Police Department / Public Domain
Leave a Reply