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GREENSBORO, N.C. — A woman was charged Friday with indecent liberties in a child pornography investigation while she was working at a Greensboro church's day school, Homeland Security Investigations reports.
Alyson Brooke Saunders, 23, who worked at Fellowship Presbyterian Church's Fellowship Day School in Greensboro, was arrested Friday morning and charged with six counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of sex offense on a child by an adult, four counts of indecent liberties with a child and two counts of crimes against nature.
She is being held under a $1 million bond.
The photos and videos depict indecent liberties against child victims between the ages of 2 and 3, according to warrants. The abuse allegedly happened at the daycare, some of it on a changing room table.
The crimes against nature charge involved a dog.
The details of all incidents are too graphic to report.
Saunders allegedly forwarded the images to someone in Great Britain.
Fellowship Day School operates both pre-school and after-school programs.
Saunders was terminated from the school after her arrest Friday.
Saunders' name was brought into the case when Homeland Security Investigations in London arrested a person on child pornography charges overseas and learned the suspect had communicated with Saunders over the internet.
HSI London then contacted HSI Winston-Salem in February.
Special agents reached out to Saunders, who agreed to a consensual interview and allowed agents to preview her electronic media.
In March, she admitted to exploiting and producing pornography of minor children, Homeland Security reports.
Forensic analysis confirmed she produced and disseminated child pornography, according to HSI.
School officials said they had performed a background check on Saunders before hiring her, and that the background check did not show any reason for concern.
Saunders had worked at the school for over five years without any concerns or red flags being raised, prior to March 7, school officials said.
Parents of all students were informed in a general meeting March 8, school officials said. The Session (the governing body of the church) was informed March 9.
Jeffrey Weber, an attorney representing families who have children who were supervised by Saunders at Fellowship Day School, said Friday, "Those parents I represent who entrusted their children to the care of Alyson Saunders are relieved by the arrest of Ms. Saunders. The parents hope this will lead to a more open response from the school and church following her arrest. There are many questions related to Ms. Saunders and her involvement with a pornographic ring, perhaps at an international level, as well as the extent to which children entrusted to her care were exploited. "
Fellowship Day School released the following statement on Friday:
Saunders is scheduled to be in court April 9 at 8:30 a.m.