A substitute teacher faces

criminal charges after allegedly visiting pornography Web sites with students

present in a middle school classroom two weeks ago.

Charlie Sheets, 19, turned

himself in to authorities Friday amid charges of contributing to the delinquency

and deprivation of a minor, according to Fayette County School System

spokesman Melinda Berry-Dreisbach. He posted bond and was released Friday

as well, the official said.

Sheets was presiding over a

social studies class at Whitewater Middle School March 20 when he allegedly

allowed students to see inappropriate pictures on a computer, Berry-Dreisbach

said.

After an investigation by the

school's resource officer, the case is now in the hands of Solicitor Steve

Harris and will likely be heard in State Court. The resource officer determined

that as many as 52 students were affected by the incident, she added,

but it will be up to Harris to determine how many counts are brought.

The charge, a misdemeanor,

brings with it a possible sentence of 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine

on each count.

The material viewed on the

computer was either "nude, partially nude or sexually related photographs

or cartoons," Berry-Dreisbach said. The class consisted of seventh-

and eighth-graders.

Sheets has been permanently

removed from the county's substitute teacher list.

State law allows anyone 18

or older with a high school diploma to be a substitute teacher, provided

other criteria are met. The Fayette County School System takes that a

step further for high school teachers, requiring them to be at least 21.

Berry-Dreisbach stressed that

once the incident was reported, the investigation was thorough and prompt.

"This was not something

the school system took lightly," she said. "We acted promptly

and are proceeding as we should be."

Harris said Tuesday that he

is working with the resource officer and school system officials, including

computer personnel, to preserve the evidence and materials viewed by the

students. "It's some very technical work," he said.

Harris added that he did not

believe any felonies were committed and the case will likely remain in

State Court.