Halifax County teacher accused of sharing child pornography through Instagram

A high school teacher from Halifax County was arrested Friday in connection with a child pornography investigation.

Detectives with the Halifax County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division received a report on Feb. 15 of child pornography being shared through

Instagram with another user in the Philippines.

Upon tracing the media to a Halifax County IP address, detectives identified Jestoni J. Pestaño, a 36-year-old Halifax County Early College teacher, as the person responsible for sending the illicit images.

Multiple search warrants were obtained and executed at the school and the suspect's residence.

At the time of his arrest, Pestaño was found at the Raleigh Durham International Airport, waiting for a flight to Japan.

Detectives from the Halifax County Sheriff's Office, RDU Police Department, and Agents from The Department of Homeland Security collaborated to take him into custody.

Pestaño was transported to the Halifax County Sheriff's Office, where he was served with a warrant for felony second degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Due to concerns about flight risk, Pestaño was placed in the Halifax County Detention Center without bond, with a court date set for Feb. 27.

The investigation is ongoing, and there is a possibility of additional charges being filed.