Boling ISD board president resigns after arrest on child pornography charges, district confirms

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The president of a school board in Wharton County has resigned after being arrested on charges of possession of child pornography, officials confirmed Saturday.

A federal criminal complaint says Boling ISD Board President Jerry Svatek Junior told an undercover officer in a chat room about sex acts with a child.

He was initially arrested on Tuesday after federal agents, working with Texas DPS, stopped his vehicle, searched his phone, and found child pornography.

Svatek bonded out of the Wharton County Jail on Wednesday but was arrested a second time on federal charges on Thursday.

The Boling ISD superintendent responded to the incident with the following statement on behalf of the district after his first arrest on Tuesday.

"We are aware of the arrest of our school board president. This is a legal matter currently under investigation, and due to the lack of detailed information, it would be inappropriate for the district to comment further at this time. Our focus remains on supporting our students, staff, and school community."

In an update on Friday, Eyewitness News learned that Svatek was removed from the Boling ISD Board of Trustees website.

Saturday morning, Boling ISD officials confirmed he had resigned.