Former School Employee Indicted in Child Sex Abuse Case

A federal grand jury has indicted Shawn Livingston, a 38-year-old former information technology employee at the Key School in Annapolis, Maryland, on 14 counts related to the coercion and enticement of minors and receipt of child sexual abuse material. The case, announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland, involves at least five minor victims across the United States and carries a potential sentence of life in federal prison.

This article was updated on 03/15/2026 to reflect new information that was later provided to us.

The Indictment

On Thursday, March 12, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Shawn Livingston with two counts of coercion and enticement of minors and 12 counts of receipt of child sexual abuse material. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, along with William Ferrari, Deputy Assistant Director of the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Secretary of State Police for the Maryland State Police.

According to the indictment, beginning in 2022, Livingston used multiple Snapchat accounts to communicate with minor females. Prosecutors allege he coerced and enticed the minors into sending sexually explicit images of themselves in exchange for payments made through peer-to-peer platforms including CashApp and Venmo. The indictment identifies at least five victims, girls between the ages of 15 and 16, who were located in various parts of the United States.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Livingston is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

How the Investigation Began

According to court documents reported by CBS News Baltimore, Livingston was arrested in December 2025 after the Diplomatic Security Service identified a large network of individuals based in India believed to be selling child sexual abuse material over social media. Federal investigators identified U.S.-based buyers who paid or attempted to pay the sellers, and Livingston was among those identified.

Investigators determined that Livingston's date of birth and social security number were associated with PayPal and Venmo accounts. An examination of his PayPal activity and Google search history revealed phrases related to purchasing child sexual abuse materials and searches for social media accounts of known victims.

Employment and Community Ties

Livingston was employed as an information technology professional at the Key School, a private school in Annapolis. The Key School immediately terminated Livingston in December 2025 upon his arrest for soliciting a minor for sex online. Election records also indicate that Livingston ran as a Democratic candidate for the Anne Arundel County Council District 7 seat in 2022.

Potential Penalties

If convicted, Livingston faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison for each count of coercion and enticement of a minor. Each count of receipt of child sexual abuse material carries a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. He is currently being held without bond at the Jennifer Road Detention Center in Annapolis. A trial date is scheduled for June 9, 2026.

Part of a Broader Federal Effort

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven T. Brantley and Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn are prosecuting the case.

Impact on Children and Families

Cases like this are a sobering reminder that individuals in positions of trust within schools and community institutions can pose a risk to children. Online exploitation through social media platforms represents a growing threat, particularly when offenders use financial incentives to coerce minors. Parents, caregivers, and educators are encouraged to maintain open communication with children about online safety and to monitor digital activity for warning signs.

Reporting Suspected Abuse

If you suspect a child is being abused, exploited, or is in immediate danger, take action immediately. Your report could protect a child.

Emergency: Call 911 if a child is in immediate danger.
Maryland Child Protective Services: Contact the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
National Child Abuse Hotline: Call 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453), operated by Childhelp, available 24/7 with professional crisis counselors.
Online Exploitation Tip Line: Report online child exploitation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at CyberTipline.org or call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
Anne Arundel County Child Abuse Unit: Call 410-222-4733 for non-emergency reports, or submit an anonymous tip at 410-222-4700.

You do not need to have proof of abuse to make a report. If something feels wrong, report it. Trained professionals will assess the situation. In Maryland, many professionals who work with children are mandated reporters, but anyone can and should report suspected abuse.