School Employee Used AI to Turn Student Images into Explicit Content
A former school district employee has now been federally charged with producing sexually exploitative images of children using artificial intelligence, as well as possession and receipt of child pornography.
The federal charges come after the suspect was previously charged in Ramsey County with ten counts of possession of child sexual abuse material.
William Michael Haslach, 30, of Maplewood, previously worked in multiple roles at two school districts: Independent School District 622, which serves North St. Paul, Maplewood, and Oakdale, and the Independent School District 834 in Stillwater.
According to court documents, between 2021 and 2025, Haslach held various positions, including lunch monitor, traffic guard, paraprofessional and youth summer programs assistant. Authorities allege that he used these roles to take non-explicit photos of children, which he then manipulated using artificial intelligence to generate explicit content.
PREVIOUSLY: School Employee Arrested for Possession of CSAM
Federal prosecutors also accuse Haslach of possessing and receiving child pornography that depicted the abuse of minors by others. A grand jury indictment has charged him with five counts of receipt of child pornography, five counts of possession of child pornography and one count of producing an obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse.
Following his arrest, Haslach appeared in U.S. District Court and was ordered to remain in custody. A formal detention hearing is scheduled for March 3.
Law enforcement agencies involved in the case, including the U.S. Secret Service, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Maplewood Police Department, are urging anyone with information to come forward. Authorities are particularly interested in speaking with parents whose children may have been in contact with Haslach or photographed by him. Concerned individuals can contact the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Tip Line at 651-793-2465 or via email at bca.tips@state.mn.us.
The state criminal case against Haslach is expected to be put on hold while the federal case proceeds. He had previously posted $80,000 in cash bail and was scheduled for a court appearance on Feb. 27, but that has since been cancelled.
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