Vice Principal Arraigned in Child Porn Case

The vice principal of a Palmdale elementary school was arraigned in federal court Monday on a charge of distributing child pornography, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Clifford George Doty, 40, of Lancaster, was arrested Friday night in San Bernardino after traveling there to meet with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl, officials said.

In fact, the “girl” was San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Det. Mike DiMatteo, officials said. The arrest followed months of sexually explicit e-mail exchanges between Doty and DiMatteo, who posed online as blond, sexually precocious “Rebecca Wst,” according to an affidavit filed in the case.

Doty had arranged to meet with “Rebecca Wst” several times this fall, with the intent of recording sex acts on a digital camera, according to the affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Ann Kirkland-Nickel. But Doty ended up canceling those meetings, the agent said.

The charge against Doty stems from two pornographic images depicting men having sex with minor girls that authorities allege he sent to “Rebecca Wst” on Sept. 10. The affidavit said Doty had also e-mailed other pornographic images of children to “Rebecca Wst” during their correspondence.

On Thursday, Kirkland-Nickel filed a criminal complaint against Doty for “knowingly distributing child pornography.”

Doty was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Monday but was not required to enter a plea, said U.S. attorney spokesman Thom Mrozek. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Nov. 28.

Mrozek said Doty is expected to be released today on $35,000 bond and placed under house detention with electronic monitoring at his mother’s home in Littlerock.

Doty’s lawyer could not be reached for comment.

Doty has been placed on administrative leave from his job as vice principal at Quail Valley Elementary School, Palmdale School District officials said.

“We’re shocked,” said Rick Grove, director of personnel services for the district. “This has come completely out of the blue.”

Grove said the school district was notified of the arrest by the FBI and received a second call Monday afternoon from the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles.

“There is nothing indicating anything took place here,” Grove said. “Nevertheless, we will conduct a thorough investigation.”

Doty, vice principal at Quail Valley since October 1999, has taught in the school district since 1983.