Piano Teacher Faces Child Porn Charges

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Va. - A popular piano teacher and registered sex offender is in trouble with the law in Virginia after he was accused of possessing child pornography. 

Fairfax County Police say investigators routinely surf the web, keeping tabs on registered sex offenders. That's how the piano teacher got on their radar.

On his website, Charles Dillon says music is his passion. But now the popular piano teacher is charged with four new counts of possessing child pornography, and online records show it's not the first time. His neighbors are stunned.

"It's just an ordinary, run-of-the-mill subdivision," said Dan Rohrhoff, a neighbor. "Everyone is just trying to live their life. To find this news out is shocking."

Virginia's registered sex offender database shows Dillon was convicted in federal court in 1998 for possessing child porn. His current troubles began last October. That's when Fairfax County Police spotted his website advertising piano lessons for ages 4 and up. Police say as a registered sex offender, he had an obligation to report his website.

"Any website, any email address, any profile ID-- there are certain requirements that the listed individual notify state police within 30 minutes," said Officer Bud Walker of the Fairfax County Police Department.

That probe last fall led to the current charges.

"Once we began that investigation, then evidence of these other charges surfaced," said Walker.

No one answered the door at Dillon's West Springfield home on Wednesday. Police say there is no allegation he inappropriately touched a child.

"There's no evidence that Mr. Dillon touched any children—it's just the simple possession of child pornography," said Walker.

The 59-year old piano teacher has his day in court the end of this month. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison on each count.