The Goodyear Police Department arrested a charter school teacher in a investigation into possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

Samuel Durham Cooper, 39, was arrested and charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to a press release. Cooper, a Goodyear resident, was a teacher at Great Hearts Trivium Preparatory Academy in the southwest Valley city.

Police began the investigation after being assigned a CyberTip from the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that was originally submitted to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, according to the release.

The report indicated a user had uploaded and shared a file that was suspected to contain child sexual abuse material. Goodyear detectives reviewed the evidence and determined the file depicted the sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the release.

Investigators served a search warrant Aug. 4 at a home in the 15000 block of West Roosevelt Street and seized multiple electronic devices, according to the release.
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Cooper was booked into Maricopa County Jail. During an interview, police said Cooper admitted to seeking out the material. Investigation into the electronic devices is ongoing, the release stated.

Police also have been in contact with officials at the school.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Goodyear Police Department at 623-932-1220 or submit anonymous tips through Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (948-6377) or 480-TESTIGO (837-8446) for Spanish speakers.