Overview
- Law enforcement arrested 39-year-old Samuel Durham Cooper and booked him on three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, with Maricopa County setting bond at $200,000.
- Officials say the probe began after Reddit reported suspected child sexual abuse material to NCMEC in 2024 and that investigators traced the reported account back to Cooper.
- Police say Cooper admitted in a post-Miranda interview to seeking and posting sexually exploitative images online while he denied any physical contact with students.
- Detectives executed search warrants, seized multiple electronic devices, and found a sexually exploitative image on a cellphone; forensic exams are ongoing and detectives say additional charges remain possible with results.
- Great Hearts Academies has terminated Cooper’s employment and the community has expressed deep concern about student safety as Cooper’s next court date is scheduled for Aug. 10, 2026.