An elementary school teacher from Metro Detroit walked out of a federal courtroom in Vermont on Friday, fitted with an ankle monitor and bound by some of the strictest release conditions possible, after prosecutors said he attempted to bring child pornography into the United States.
Federal agents say the case exploded when border officials at Highgate Springs, Vermont sounded an alert linking Martin D. Waskowski, 38, of Royal Oak, to a suspected attempted sexual enticement case. Homeland Security Investigations said that during a secondary inspection Thursday as Waskowski tried to enter Vermont from Quebec, agents reviewed his cellphone and found possible evidence of child exploitation. Waskowski was immediately taken into custody.
A court-ordered search of his Royal Oak residence early Friday allegedly uncovered five computers, five hard drives, and an iPad. A preliminary look at one hard drive revealed more than 12,000 files believed to be child pornography, Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Nolan said during a detention hearing.
Despite Nolan’s push to keep Waskowski jailed pending trial, Federal Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle released him to the custody of his father, Martin Waskowski Sr., also of Royal Oak. Waskowski is banned from contact with anyone under 18 and cannot leave the home except for court, legal meetings, and medical needs. Pretrial Services in Detroit will monitor his movement.
The allegations stunned school officials back home.
Waskowski, identified as a fourth-grade teacher for the Eastpointe Community Schools, had been absent from Pleasantview Elementary for three days leading up to his arrest. He was due back Friday morning, but instead appeared in court to hear federal charges against him.
RESPONSE FROM EASTPOINTE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
The district released a message to families Friday, stating:
“Eastpointe Community Schools was notified on Friday, December 5, 2025, by the Michigan State Police and the Department of Homeland Security that a Pleasantview teacher had been arrested out of state, and charged with possession and transportation of child exploitation materials. Prior to this formal notification, the District had no knowledge of, nor had it received any allegations related to, this individual.”
The statement continued:
“Upon receiving this information, the District took immediate action and placed Pleasantview Elementary teacher Martin Waskowski on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, as with all criminal proceedings, a charge is an allegation, the individual is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. However, the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority, we take this matter extremely seriously, and regardless of the outcome of the criminal investigation, the District will continue to act in the best interest of children at all times.”
The district says Waskowski taught for three school years, and a long-term substitute has already been placed to ensure stability in the classroom. Social workers are on standby for students who may need support.
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