Former KC-area teacher accused of filming child porn in school faces more charges
An Independence man who previously worked as a teacher in several Kansas City-area schools is facing a second set of federal criminal charges related to child sex crimes.
Dennis A. Hernandez, 28, was arrested at home on August 21 and charged with transportation of child pornography, production and attempted production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
On Wednesday, he was also charged with four additional counts. Hernandez now faces seven total charges; five counts of producing or attempting to produce child pornography, one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Hernandez’s arrest followed a series of tips from a national child protection organization, the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, to the FBI, about his internet activity. Investigators found more than one thousand images of child sexual abuse material on Hernandez’s phone, some of which he allegedly filmed in school settings.
Investigators believe that the four incidents that led to the new charges allegedly took place between August 2022 and August 2025, according to a federal courts spokesperson for the Western District of Missouri.
Investigators allege that Hernandez coerced at least five minors into participating in the production of child pornography on at least seven occasions, consistent with the seven charges.
Initial charging documents indicated that Hernandez filmed at least 18 children, primarily boys, in some capacity, including at a Gladstone elementary school, in student locker rooms and on school buses.
At the time of his August 21 arrest, Hernandez had just begun a position teaching first grade at Fairmount Elementary in the Independence School District, according to charging documents.
Hernandez also previously worked in the North Kansas City school district, both as a teacher and as a facilitator for afterschool and summer childcare programs, according to charging documents and a district spokesperson.
Hernandez is currently in federal custody. His case was referred Tuesday to a federal magistrate judge, initiating pretrial motions and suggesting that it will go to trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Dunning filed a motion Wednesday to dismiss the previous three charges against Hernandez and file a new seven-count indictment including both sets of charges, according to federal court records.
Hernandez has denied making physical contact with any of his alleged victims.
The Star has reached out to the Independence and North Kansas City school districts for comment. Chris Oberholtz, an NKCSD spokesperson, said the district is aware of the additional charges against Hernandez.
“Our partnership with federal authorities continues as their investigation develops,” Oberholtz said. “We will continue doing all we can to support those impacted and share available information with transparency as we work toward a just resolution.”
ISD spokesperson Megan Dillard wrote that the district is “following due process” around Hernandez’s employment status as his federal case advances. The district placed Hernandez on administrative leave after his arrest.
“ We cannot bypass due process or terminate employment without following the proper legal procedures,” Dillard wrote.
In a statement made available to The Star at the time of Hernandez’s arrest, Dillard previously said that the district does not have any evidence “linking any ISD students to the allegations.”
Anyone who believes themselves or their children may have been a victim of Hernandez is asked to call 1-800-FBI. The FBI has also opened a webpage where victims over 18 or parents of victims can submit additional tips about Hernandez.
This story was originally published September 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM.
