ABERDEEN, Miss. — Andrew Murphy, 36, a former high school science teacher, was convicted by a federal jury for possessing child sexual abuse materials following a three-day trial. The trial, presided over by Senior District Judge Glen H. Davidson, concluded with Murphy’s conviction in Aberdeen, Mississippi.
The evidence presented at trial showed that Murphy had collected images of child exploitation, child nudity, and children engaged in sexual activities through a peer-to-peer network online. These materials were found to demonstrate Murphy’s sexual interest in children.
Murphy is scheduled for sentencing on July 28, 2025, at the U.S. Courthouse in Aberdeen. The statutory penalties for his conviction include up to 10 years imprisonment, five years to life on supervised release, and mandatory registration on the sex offender registry.
U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner emphasized the importance of collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement in addressing such crimes:
“The case presented to the jury clearly established the guilt of this teacher who possessed materials that demonstrated his sexual interest in children.”
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch also stressed the significance of prosecuting individuals in positions of trust, like Murphy:
“For every image of child pornography, there is a child victim who will relive their abuse repeatedly. We are committed to holding all predators accountable.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff added,
“Murphy violated the trust that communities placed in him, and this heinous crime against our youth will not be tolerated. We remain committed to investigating and bringing predators like Murphy to justice.”
The case was investigated by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the FBI, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Parker S. King and John Herzog handling the prosecution.
This conviction is part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a nationwide effort by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation. Through this initiative, federal, state, and local resources are used to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children over the internet. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
