Jordan teacher charged with ten counts of sexual exploitation of minors
- Ruby Gentithes
- Mar 20
- 2 min read
Trigger warning: This story discusses sexual abuse involving minors. Readers are advised to proceed with caution.
Jordan science teacher, Miguel Tirado, was arrested on Wednesday, March 19, with ten counts of felony second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. See below for this charge’s definition according to NC Legislation. He was arrested off campus and placed on investigatory leave starting Thursday. The Durham Police Department arrested him with the help of the FBI’s Raleigh-based Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Tirado’s bail, originally set at $500k as requested by prosecution, was raised to $1 million by a judge in court today. The judge made the decision to double the bail after confirming that Tirado was a high school teacher. The judge also made it clear that Tirado cannot come into contact with any minors. Tirado joined the court on Zoom from the Durham County Jail.
In arrest records, the date of Tirado’s offenses were listed as September 28, 2024. Warrants show that Tirado distributed child pornography videos using the Kik messaging app, with videos including children as young as 5-7 years old engaging in sexual activity with adult men.
Tirado is due again in court on April 14, 2025.
As for the effect on the Jordan community, Principal Taylor released in a statement, “To ensure that teaching and learning continue without disruption, we are working quickly to find and appoint a substitute teacher.” A substitute teacher was present in Tirado's class on Thursday.
Jordan students are encouraged to seek the help of student services and their counselors as they process this, as it is a disturbing and concerning story.
This is a developing story, and Falcon Post will continue to report as more details arise.
NC Legislation defines a felony second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor if a person does any of the following:
1) Records, photographs, films, develops, or duplicates material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity.
2) Distributes, transports, exhibits, receives, sells, purchases, exchanges, or solicits material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity or that has been created, adapted, or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaged in sexual activity.
3) Distributes, transports, exhibits, receives, sells, purchases, exchanges, or solicits a child sex doll.
Thanks to Curtis Berzofsky, Phoebe Artin, and Ainsley Buzby for their collaboration in writing this story.
Sources
3) “Durham teacher arrested, charged with distributing child sexual abuse material online,” WRAL News
8) “Case Summary, Case No. 25CR260949-310,” Durham District Court – contains graphic descriptions, caution advised