Seminole County kindergarten teacher, former boyfriend accused of producing child pornography

March 15-- Mar. 15--A Seminole County kindergarten teacher and her former boyfriend are accused of recording themselves sexually abusing young children, court records show.

Audra Mabel, 34, is facing federal charges of creating child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child. Justin Ritchie, 36, is accused of sexual assault of a child in Seminole County.

The investigation started March 5, after a preschool-aged child Ritchie is related to told her mother he had touched her inappropriately, according to his arrest affidavit. The mother took her child to Seminole County deputies that day, records show.

Sanford police officers spoke with the child the next day, records show. She told them Ritchie had touched her inappropriately "many times" and that there was video of the incidents on his cell phone, according to Ritchie's arrest affidavit.

Officers arrested Ritchie March 8 as he stepped out of an Uber in front of his home after returning from a business trip to Chicago, records show. They had a search warrant for his cell phone and other devices, on which they found the videos, records show.

Authorities said they also found videos of Mabel inappropriately touching a young child she is related to, and video that showed Mabel in a Michigan where she taught first grade. In the video, Mabel exposes herself before turning the camera toward a classroom full of children, investigators said.

Mabel worked as a kindergarten teacher at Spring Lake Elementary School, according to a directory posted on the schools's website. Seminole County Public Schools did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mabel and Ritchie are being held in the Seminole County Jail without bond.

glotan@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5774; miwilliams@orlandosentinel.com, 407-420-5022 or @michaeldamianw.

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