Graham Freeman was removed from the classroom after state agents arrested him following a search of his Cape Coral home.
FORT MYERS, FL — A Lee County middle school science teacher faces 10 counts of possessing child sexual abuse material after Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents searched his Cape Coral home and seized electronic devices, authorities said.
Graham Freeman, 56, was arrested Aug. 6 and booked into the Lee County Jail. FDLE said he also faces one count involving sexual activity with animals, bringing the total number of charges in the case to 11. The Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is handling the case. Freeman has pleaded not guilty, according to court records cited by local news reports.
FDLE said its investigation began July 16 as agents used investigative software to identify suspected child sexual abuse material moving through peer-to-peer file-sharing networks. Investigators said they detected an internet address downloading more than 40 suspected files and traced the address to Freeman’s residence. The allegations have not been proven in court, and the investigation remains active.
Agents and analysts served a search warrant at Freeman’s Cape Coral residence Aug. 6, according to FDLE. The agency said investigators seized numerous electronic devices and found hundreds of files suspected of containing child sexual abuse material and content involving sexual activity with animals. Freeman was arrested after the search and taken to the Lee County Jail. Authorities have not announced allegations that students at his school were depicted in the material.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier identified Freeman during an Aug. 13 news conference as a middle school science teacher in the School District of Lee County. District Superintendent Denise Carlin said Freeman was removed from the classroom, barred from district property and recommended for termination after officials learned of the investigation. The district’s action is an employment measure and does not determine the outcome of the criminal case.
The School District of Lee County previously said Freeman had been removed from the classroom pending termination by the School Board. The arrest drew added attention because of his position working with students, although investigators have not publicly accused Freeman of committing an offense against a Lee County student. FDLE has described the case as part of a broader statewide effort targeting the possession and sharing of child sexual abuse material.
Freeman was being held on a combined $5.1 million bond, according to court information reported by the Fort Myers Beach Observer and Beach Bulletin. The amount included $500,000 for each of the 10 child pornography possession counts and $100,000 on the additional charge. Court records also listed conditions that would apply if Freeman were released, including no contact with minor children, passport surrender and GPS monitoring. His attorney filed a motion seeking a reduction in bail.
A not-guilty plea was entered in court Monday, Aug. 10. A plea of not guilty allows Freeman to contest the charges and requires prosecutors to prove any charges they pursue. The criminal counts remain allegations unless established through a guilty plea or conviction. No final disposition in the case had been announced as of Thursday.
FDLE announced Freeman’s case Thursday alongside two other investigations involving alleged crimes against children. The agency said local law enforcement agencies assisted with the operations and that the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute the cases. Officials said the investigations remain active, leaving open the possibility of additional evidence or developments as forensic reviews and court proceedings continue.
Author note: Last updated August 13, 2026.