Cheyenne Teacher Waives Preliminary Hearing on Child Porn Charge
A Cheyenne elementary school teacher accused of trying to distribute child pornography has waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
Matt Bell, a 6th grade teacher at Henderson Elementary, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kelly H. Rankin in Cheyenne on Friday.
Rankin agreed to Bell's pretrial release and set a $10,000 unsecured bond in the case.
"Your leash will be short," Rankin told Bell. "If you violate any of the conditions you'll end up back in jail."
As part of his release, Bell is not allowed to possess or purchase a computer and is to have no contact with minors. He was also ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.
"I'm still on paid leave, but I want to get a part-time job," Bell told Rankin.
"I will not be going to school," Bell added. "The only time I'm around kids is at school."
Bell was arrested on December 30 after a monthslong investigation into a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to the discovery of 87 image files of suspected child porn on his laptop.
Bell is facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted. His trial date has not yet been scheduled.