Former Texas middle school teacher Mark Mallow was sentenced to 131 years in prison after being found guilty on 20 counts of possessing and promoting child pornography.
Charges against Mallow included using the Snapchat app to send images and video of young boys engaged in sex acts, using the Grindr app to solicit a picture of a 14-year-old boy’s genitals, and using the Telegram app to share images of child sexual abuse showing victims as young as infants.
A state judge in San Antonio imposed consecutive sentences for each count due to the shocking nature of the crimes.
Under Texas law, possession of child sexual abuse material is a third-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison. Possession with intent to promote child porn is a second-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
Until his first child pornography arrest in August 2022, 27-year-old Mallow taught at Woodlake Hills Middle School in Judson Independent School District, located in northeast San Antonio.
Mallow was arrested again in June 2023 while out on a $180,000 bond for the previous child porn charges.
The second arrest was the result of a sting operation by independent journalist Alex Rosen, who specializes in tracking pedophiles online, recording their confessions, and turning over the evidence he collects to local authorities.
Rosen testified at Mallow’s trial in San Antonio.
“They played our entire video in court, and now he’s serving life in prison because we caught him while he was out on bond,” said Rosen.
According to Rosen, he and his Predator Poachers team have nabbed child predators in 35 states. He called Mallow’s jail time “our longest sentence yet.”
Mallow’s teaching certificate remains valid, but it shows he is under investigation by the Texas Education Agency.
Bexar County Criminal District Attorney Joe Gonzales commended Judge Christine Del Prado for imposing a severe sentence on Mallow.
“Sexual offenders who prey on our children will be prosecuted aggressively. They have no place in our society,” said Gonzales.
Scores of Texas teachers have been busted for child porn and other sex crimes involving children.
