Ex-Teacher Steven Pilar Sentenced to 4 Years for Child Pornography

Steven Pilar, a former fifth-grade teacher from the San Gabriel Valley, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for possessing over 400 videos of child sexual abuse. The 47-year-old, who was employed at Baldwin Academy in La Puente, downloaded the disturbing material between February and April 2020 using a peer-to-peer file-sharing program. Prosecutors emphasized the severity of his actions, noting that they caused significant harm to the victims and were aggravated by his position as a teacher. Pilar pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography in December 2024 and was also ordered to pay $115,000 in restitution. He had been in federal custody since August 2024 after state charges were dropped to allow federal prosecution. The case highlights the ongoing issue of child exploitation and the legal system's response to such crimes.