Former SLC School Board member indicted for production of child pornography

Salt Lake City, Utah — A former member of the Salt Lake City School District Board of Education is indicated on several federal child pornography charges.

A 29-year-old Joel Lehi-Organista was arrested earlier this month by the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

According to officials, the federal indictment accuses Organista of 4 separate charges – production, receipt, transportation, and possession of child pornography.

The new charges are in addition to 11 felony charges, including the object rape of a child, that was filed against Organista in state court on June 4.

According to investigators, Organista communicated with juveniles between the ages of 12-17, asked them for naked photos, and instructed the juveniles to perform sex acts over video.

“Organista has access to young children in his current position of trust involving grades K-12. Joel has shown that, through electronic means, that he frequently meets children online, solicits nude photographs of them, and has private online video conversations with them,” an investigator wrote in the arrest report.

According to officials, Organista could face a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison. The state charges against him carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.