Former Southeast Texas teacher indicted for child exploitation in the Eastern District of Texas

BEAUMONT, Texas – A former Southeast Texas teacher has been charged with federal child exploitation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

 

Derek Bryan Peveto, 46, was named in a federal indictment returned by a grand jury on October 7, 2026, charging him with production of child pornography.

 

According to the indictment, on June 13, 2026, Peveto is alleged to have used a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct resulting in the production of child pornography.

 

If convicted, Peveto faces a minimum of 15 years in federal prison.

 

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

 

This case is being investigated by the FBI and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.

 

A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.