The Celina ISD middle school coach at the center of an illicit locker room recording scandal now faces federal felony child exploitation charges.
Caleb Elliott was indicted by a federal grand jury on eight counts of sexual exploitation of children, specifically production of child sexual abuse material.
The indictment filed Wednesday in a federal district court in Sherman alleges that between April and October 2025, Elliott coerced minors “to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct.”
The first seven counts cite seven individual victims exploited by Elliott. The eighth count is for attempted exploitation.
Elliott was a 6th grade teacher and 8th grade coach at Moore Middle School in Celina Independent School District. He is also the son of Celina ISD’s celebrated Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Bill Elliott.
The 26-year-old Elliott is in jail after being arrested three times for recording student athletes in the locker room while the boys were undressed and showering and for making one student perform “nude jumping jacks.”
He was charged with invasive visual recording, possession of child sexual abuse material, and sexual performance by a child.
Elliott was allowed to resign from Celina ISD following his second arrest and has remained in the Collin County Jail since his third arrest on November 7, with bond set at $350,000.
The federal charges relate to the same allegations.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, federal jurisdiction almost always applies when the internet is used to commit a child “pornography” violation, even if the image itself did not travel across state or international borders.
A first time offender faces a statutory minimum of 15-30 years maximum in prison. An offender can be prosecuted under both federal and state laws.
Caleb Elliott and Celina ISD are also the targets of two civil lawsuits that accuse the district and its employees of gross negligence. The plaintiffs claim the district was not only aware of Elliott’s alleged past predation of young boys but deliberately covered it up to protect the legacy of Celina ISD’s famed football program—allowing Elliott ongoing access to young male students.
Families of 12 Moore Middle School student athletes are now plaintiffs in the first lawsuit. A second lawsuit filed by three other families also names Bill Elliott, Superintendent Tom Maglisceau, and Principal Allison Ginn as defendants.
Maglisceau placed Ginn and Bill Elliott on administrative leave pending completion of the district’s own third-party investigation, which the superintendent said is on hold until Celina police complete their investigation. The Texas Attorney General’s Office is also conducting a criminal investigation.
Previous reporting on the Celina ISD scandal:
- Celina ISD Coach Charged With Invasive Visual Recording of Middle Schoolers
- Celina ISD Middle School Coach Faces New Child Porn Charge
- Celina ISD Lets Coach Resign After Locker Room Recording Scandal
- Victims of Locker Room Recording Scandal Sue Celina ISD for Cover-up
- Lawmaker Calls for State to Investigate Celina ISD Scandal
- Celina ISD Faces Criminal Investigation Over Claimed Coverup of Coach Preying on Boys
- State Rep. Mitch Little Calls for Transparency in Celina ISD Sexual Abuse Scandal
- More Families Sue Celina ISD Over Locker Room Recording Scandal
- Celina ISD Coach Faces Third Arrest as More Families Join Lawsuit
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