Former West Middle School teacher arrested, accused of child sex crimes
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A former employee of Columbia Public Schools has been arrested on suspicion of multiple child sex crimes, according to a social media post from the Columbia Police Department.
CPD wrote that officers on Wednesday arrested Zachary Hutchinson, 38, of Columbia.
He was charged on Wednesday with three counts of second-degree statutory sodomy, one count of child enticement, sexually exploiting a minor, giving pornographic material to a minor (a misdemeanor), second-degree promoting child porn and possessing child porn.
He will be held without bond, though he has not yet appeared on the Boone County Jail’s online roster. A court date has not been scheduled.
Educator credentials were listed for Hutchinson at West Middle School for the 2025-26 school year on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's website. Information for educator credentials dates back to 2021 for Hutchinson on DESE's website. Additionally, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s public pay database lists Hutchinson as a teacher at West Middle School.
The probable cause statement also identifies Hutchinson as a teacher at West Middle School at the time the document was written.
A spokesperson from the school district told ABC 17 News in an email that Hutchinson had worked at West Middle School, but that the incident did not involve the school or any of its students. The district spokesperson did not confirm his position or dates of employment.
Police wrote that it became aware of Hutchinson having “a potentially inappropriate relationship” with a girl on Jan. 15.
“The investigation has determined that Hutchinson and the juvenile victim did not meet as a result of his employment, nor did any known contact occur on school property,” police wrote on its social media.
The probable cause statement says Hutchinson encouraged the victim to go into his vehicle to perform sexual acts. The victim’s mother allegedly found nude photographs of Hutchinson on the victim’s phone and additional messages appeared to show Hutchinson making plans to meet with the youth.
Text messages described in court documents took place over the course of several days and showed explicit conversations and details of illicit photos between Hutchinson and the victim.
Check back for updates.
