School worker used AI to morph images of Minnesota students into child porn, feds say
A Minnesota school worker took photos of students in his care, then used AI to alter them into child pornography images, federal prosecutors say.
William Michael Haslach, who in January was terminated after facing local charges, has now been charged at a federal level.
Haslach, 30, was charged with five counts each of receipt and possession of child pornography and one count of production of an obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.
Attorney info for Haslach was not listed as of the morning of Feb. 27.
Prosecutors said Haslach worked as a lunch monitor and traffic guard for Independent School District #622 from August 2021 to January 2025. Until 2024, he was also a paraprofessional and later a youth summer programs assistant for Independent School District #834.
Schools he worked for included Cowern Elementary, Richardson Elementary and North High School, all in North St. Paul, according to School District #622 Superintendent Christine Tucci Osorio.
“Haslach used his access to children to take non-explicit photos of children in his care,” prosecutors said in a Feb. 26 news release. “Haslach then used those images to produce morphed/AI photos of those minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.”
There are “strong indications” Haslach distributed the AI-altered photos he made to other people, prosecutors said. An investigation is ongoing.
He is also accused of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material of kids who prosecutors say had been abused by others.
“My thoughts are with the many Minnesota parents who will be horrified to learn how Haslach used AI advances to victimize schoolchildren in his care,” Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick said in a statement.
Prosecutors clarified that Haslach only took photos of clothed children, but he later morphed those images using AI technology. He is not facing charges of “hands-on” sexual abuse, authorities said.
If convicted, Haslach faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to the news release.
In a separate local case, the school worker was charged with 10 counts of child porn possession in Maplewood, KARE reported. He had “about 800 files depicting child sexual abuse” on multiple devices, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the station.
Child sex abuse videos in his possession included victims ranging in age from 3 to 12, Bring Me The News reported in January.
“Throughout his employment with the school district, from September, 2021 to January, 2025, the district did not receive any complaints or allegations regarding Mr. Haslach’s conduct toward students,” Osorio said in a January statement when the teacher was terminated.
“The district takes the safety and security of our students extremely seriously,” the statement continued. “We have been cooperating fully with law enforcement in their investigation and will continue to do so as the process unfolds. We understand the gravity of these charges and remain committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for our students.”