81-year-old substitute teacher caught watching porn in classroom, Texas cops say

High school students caught their 81-year-old substitute teacher viewing pornography in a classroom, leading to his arrest, according to Texas authorities and news reports.

Kenneth Hartley was charged with displaying harmful material to a minor following the Friday, Jan. 10, incident at Klein Oak High School in Spring, KTRK reported.

The substitute was intentionally viewing “a video depicting individuals engaged in deviant sexual intercourse” on a personal device while at least one person under the age of 18 was present, according to court documents.

A video obtained by KPRC, which blurred the faces of the substitute and the teacher, shows a police presence and Hartley being removed from the classroom.

Now, he will never teach in the Klein Independent School District again, officials said in a statement to KRIV.

“We want to thank the students who reported this incident, as well as the campus administrators and law enforcement for their swift response. Klein ISD remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students,” the statement read.

Hartley has been certified to teach in Texas since 1966, records show.

Spring is about a 25-mile drive north from Houston.

This story was originally published January 13, 2025 at 11:50 AM with the headline "81-year-old substitute teacher caught watching porn in classroom, Texas cops say."