Teacher Arrested in Child Pornography Identified

Authorities identified the South Pasadena High School teacher who was arrested Wednesday on charges of possession and duplication of child pornography as Steven Lieberman, 44, of Monrovia.

Lieberman, head of the high school math department, was immediately placed on leave pending the outcome of criminal proceedings, school district officials said.

He was released on $10,000 bail. If convicted of the misdemeanor charges, Lieberman would be required to register as a sex offender, authorities said.

The 24-year veteran of South Pasadena schools was detained during an undercover operation by detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Sexually Exploited Child Unit.

The teacher responded to an advertisement detectives had placed in sex magazines, LAPD Det. Bill Dworin, said

“Lieberman contacted an undercover officer for the purpose of obtaining child pornography,” Dworin said.

“He was arrested at a public parking lot after meeting the officer and exchanging a child pornographic videotape for similar material.”

Police served a search warrant at his residence, and a large quantity of adult pornography and six child pornographic tapes were seized, Dworin said. Lieberman has no criminal history, police said.

“It came as a complete shock,” South Pasadena High School Principal Thelma Reyna said.