A 51-year-old New Port Richey man has been indicted for possessing child sexual abuse material, according to federal prosecutors. Joel Thomas Lust, employed by Pasco County Schools since 2005, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Investigators allege he accessed such material between March 2023 and May 2024, though officials note his clerical role did not involve student contact. The FBI-led investigation is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, emphasizing the prosecution of child exploitation crimes. Authorities clarified that an indictment does not equate to guilt, as the defendant remains presumed innocent until trial.
Pasco County Man Charged with Child Sexual Abuse Material Possession
