A former School City of Hammond maintenance director has his initial trial date set for October.
David Reyes, 58, was indicted earlier this month for production of a minor engaging in any sexually explicit conduct; distribution of child pornography; and possession or access with intent to view child pornography.
Documents allege he used his work phone to upload child pornography featuring young boys and receive sexually explicit videos and messages from an out-of-state 14-year-old boy.
The grand jury indictment from Aug. 22 alleges Reyes had a minor send him “sexually explicit” content since October, which varies from the first indictment on Aug. 15 that went back to February.
The hearing Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Hammond, Indiana, before Magistrate John Martin was meant to provide information to see if he would be released on pretrial detention.
However, the federal court’s pretrial services haven’t inspected his house. Once that is done, another hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Sept. 24.
Reyes remains jailed. His lawyer Brian Woodward declined comment.
Federal authorities are asking people who believe that they or someone they know may have been victimized by Reyes or otherwise have information about the charges against him to contact Homeland Security Investigations by phone at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP.
Court documents show Reyes had the usernames “davy_found” and “davy_found#0” on Discord and “Gay Davy” on the Session app.
Records show the school board terminated Reyes, with an effective date of Aug. 11. Ted Bryak has been selected as a temporary replacement.
Hammond Police at around 7 a.m. Aug. 11 joined Department of Homeland Security officers to execute a search warrant at a home in the 400 block of Highland Street, according to a copy of the call the Post-Tribune received. The house was in “very poor condition,” and officers called both Hammond Animal Control and Code Enforcement, the call reads.
Code Enforcement deemed the house “uninhabitable” and had NIPSCO come to turn off the gas and electricity, while Animal Control removed a dog but couldn’t find five cats, according to the call.
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Investigators found just over 900 videos and over 400 images on Reyes’ cellphone. The “overwhelming majority” was child pornography, filings state.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadia Wardrip is prosecuting the case.
Post-Tribune archives contributed.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.