SAN DIEGO (CA)
KNSD - NBC 7 [San Diego CA]
August 13, 2025
By Christina Bravo
The complaint describes text messages between the Saint Augustine High School teacher and a suspect in Denver, where the two shared sexually explicit videos of minors.
A teacher at a San Diego Catholic high school has been placed on leave and is facing federal charges following an investigation into child sexual abuse materials.
Ryan Bennett Segura, a 27-year-old religious studies teacher at Saint Augustine High School in North Park, is accused of distributing videos across state lines that involved a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, according to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Tuesday.
According to the complaint, the Federal Bureau of Investigation first became aware of Segura’s possible transgressions through social media messages with a suspect in Denver, whose home was raided in September 2024 for similar charges.
In the social media messages between Segura and the Denver suspect, “the two users can be seen discussing their mutual sexual interest in children, and exchanging visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct,” the complaint read.
The FBI was able to determine the messages were sent by Segura after they connected the social media account to his phone number. A search warrant was then served on his home on Tuesday.
“At the time of the search, SEGURA was carrying an Apple iPhone that had the same phone number used by the
account of the person communicating with the DENVER SUBJECT,” the complaint read.
The complaint said Segura admitted to the social media account and the message exchange.
“He further admitted that he views this type of material every couple of months but claims he stopped doing so in approximately March 2025,” the complaint read.
It was not clear from the complaint if the minor depicted in the videos knew Segura, or if there were one or multiple victims.
A spokesperson for the private Catholic high school released a statement that said:
“We are deeply concerned about the arrest of Ryan Segura and have placed him on administrative leave pending an investigation. We are cooperating with the FBI. At this point, we have been told by law enforcement that they do not believe that any Saintsmen were affected. Nonetheless, we will be conducting our own investigation. We will share more information as it becomes available, as we continue to reflect and pray for everyone that is involved in this situation.“
Segura was arrested on Tuesday and has been released on bail. He was expected to appear Wednesday in federal court but the U.S. Attorney’s Office said his case was postponed. He is next expected in court on Aug. 26.
His arrest will keep him out of the classroom for now, and if convicted, possibly forever.
