An Oxnard man who previously worked as an English teacher in the city will serve between 16 to 24 months in state prison after he admitted to possessing hundreds of images of child pornography.
Aaron Wayne Bouffard, 55, received his sentence on Wednesday, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. He will serve 16 months for possession of child sexual abuse material, admitting to having saved more than 600 images, as well as two years for violating the terms of his probation.
The sentences run concurrently, meaning he will spend a maximum of 24 months in prison.
Bouffard was previously a teacher at Rio Mesa High School in Oxnard, but hadn’t worked in the school since a 2021 conviction for child endangerment, officials said.
He was arrested in September 2024 by members of the Ventura Police Department after the Department of Homeland Security launched an investigation into the online sale of child pornography by a suspect later revealed to be Bouffard.
A search warrant later revealed hundreds of images of child sexual abuse material from multiple devices at his home.
The District Attorney’s Office was seeking a longer prison term and a special allegation related to the number of images he had kept on his devices. The special allegation was dismissed by the sentencing judge, the D.A.’s Office said, and he was ultimately given the shorter sentence.
“Possession of child pornography causes irreparable harm to vulnerable children,” said Deputy District Attorney Katherine Plante. “As a former teacher, parent and felony probationer, the defendant should have understood better than anyone the responsibility we all share to protect our children.”