Former N.D. Principal Facing 4 Federal Charges in Connection with Child Sexual Abuse

39-year-old David George was charged with transportation of a minor, receipt, distribution and possession of images depicting the sexual exploitation of children

<p>Getty</p> Historic  buildings of Italian Renaissance and Romanesque style architecture in downtown Fargo, North Dakota.

Getty

Historic buildings of Italian Renaissance and Romanesque style architecture in downtown Fargo, North Dakota.

A former North Dakota middle school principal was charged with four federal charges in connection to child sexual abue on March 7, according to federal court documents obtained by PEOPLE.

David George, 39, has now been charged with transportation of a minor, receipt of images depicting the sexual exploitation of children, distribution of images depicting the sexual exploitation of children and possession of images depicting the sexual exploitation of children.

George was employed as a principal with West Fargo Public Schools. After he was arrested and charged with possession of certain materials prohibited in August of 2023 by the State of North Dakota, he submitted his resignation, reported Valley News.

<p>Getty</p> Stock image of a school hallway.

Getty

Stock image of a school hallway.

The seven state charges -- six counts of possession of certain materials prohibited and one count of promoting or directing an obscene sexual performance by a minor -- were dropped on March 12, five days after the federal case was filed.

In the federal indictment obtained by PEOPLE, George is accused of having received through the Internet visual depictions of “a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct” from January 2020 through August 2023.

Related: Former Priest Who Allegedly Abused, Impregnated Teen Girl Keeps Job as Middle School Teacher

During that same 44-month period, he allegedly distributed through Internet sexually explicit content of minors. According to the indictment, in October 2022, he “knowingly transported, and caused to be transported,” a minor from North Dakota to South Dakota “with the intent that such individual engage in sexual activity.”

Then, in August 2023, he allegedly possessed visual depictions of minors engaging in sexual activity, also from the Internet.

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George remains in police custody at Cass County Jail, reports Dakota News Now. His trial is scheduled for May 21 through May 25.

Representatives for George’s attorney, Jennifer Braun, the Cass County Sheriff's Office, and Assistant United States Attorney Gary Lee Delorme did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Friday.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

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Read the original article on People.