A California teacher has been jailed for 16 years after being convicted in the “Mr. Pickles” child predator case.
32-year-old Daniel Zachary Dasko, a former teacher and youth hockey coach from a school in Carlsbad, California, was found guilty in court last week.
Dasko was convicted on charges related to his role in baiting children into sending sexually explicit images.
After obtaining the indecent images, Dasko reportedly circulated them online among other predators.
Dasko pleaded guilty to one count relating to the distribution of images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct back in April, according to KSWB-TV.
However, despite being sentenced, the sex offender is currently out on bond.
The judge ordered Dasko to report to prison on October 3.
Dasko apparently lured the minors into sharing explicit material by posing as adolescent girls on social media.
Only then would he prompt them to send the illegal images.
“This defendant is a sexual predator who used his position as a teacher and coach to inform his sexual interests and to target kids for online abuse,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden.
“His job was to educate and protect children.
“Instead, he exploited them.
“We will do everything in