Topline: Investigators began their probe after Google submitted multiple cyber tips to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Published: March 4, 2026 8:01 am ET
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Richard Upright (via Guilford County Sheriff's Office)
GREENSBORO, NC — A North Carolina judge set a $750,000 secured bond Monday for a former teacher at Vandalia Christian School accused of using artificial intelligence and photo-editing software to superimpose students’ faces onto child sexual abuse material.
Richard Lynn Upright, 56, appeared in court for the first time following his Feb. 27 arrest on 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, as reported by WXII 12 News and WGHP FOX8.
The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received cyber tips from Google and notified local authorities, according to WXII.
WFMY reported that seven separate cyber tips were submitted by Google to NCMEC, triggering a chain of review that routed the information through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation before reaching the sheriff’s office. Investigators later subpoenaed Charter Communications and confirmed the IP address tied to the Google Drive account was registered to Upright’s home on Pleasant Garden Road, less than a mile from the school, WFMY reported.
Detectives testified in court that they identified 111 confirmed images of child sexual abuse material connected to Upright across the seven tips, according to WFMY.
WXII similarly reported that a detective revealed during Monday’s hearing that 111 sexual images were found on his devices.
Search warrants were executed Feb. 27 at both Upright’s home and at the school, according to WFMY and WGHP. During testimony, a detective described how many of the images were manipulated photographs.
“A search warrant was executed at the Vandalia Christian school on Feb. 27. At that time, we discovered that the faces of many of these cyber tips that I’ve viewed were actually photoshop photographs with his students’ heads on the images of child pornography,” a detective with the sheriff’s office said in court, according to WGHP.
Investigators said Upright had taken photos of students and placed their faces over nude and sexually explicit images, using AI and photo-editing tools before storing the altered files on his Google Drive, WGHP reported. WXII also reported that detectives said Upright photoshopped minors’ faces onto sensitive sexual photos that were AI-generated.
According to WGHP, Upright was still employed at the school when the investigation began Feb. 23. He was fired after the charges were filed. Court documents listed at least one victim as an unknown juvenile female, WGHP reported, and it remains unclear how many victims may be involved or whether all were students. A court document cited by WGHP states that some of the material was created in a classroom, though it does not specify whether it occurred at Vandalia Christian School.
WXII reported that Upright’s only prior offense was a 2002 speeding ticket.
During Monday’s hearing, the judge acknowledged the emotional nature of the allegations but emphasized that bond must be set according to the law and evidence, WFMY reported. Second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor is a Class E felony in North Carolina, carrying a maximum sentence of 136 months in prison per count. Citing sentencing guidelines recommending a secured bond range of $15,000 to $75,000 for a Class E felony, the judge applied that range to each of the 10 charges and set bond at $750,000, according to WFMY.
A father of two girls who had Upright as a teacher addressed the court and urged the judge not to release him, according to WFMY, WXII and WGHP. One daughter is currently in his class, while the other had him as a teacher six years ago.
“My current daughter was his student this year, and, as a father, not being able to protect my child from that and then to see this, it’s a trial on my family,” the father said, according to WGHP. “She’s going back to school today … I had to be there for her at lunch time to make sure that she was OK walking from class to lunch. My wife had to go down there this morning to make sure she got into class OK and that she was alright.”
“Not being able to protect my child from that and being able to see this,” the father said, “is trying,” WFMY reported.
Upright, who was appointed a public defender, waived a probable-cause hearing and is scheduled to return to Guilford County district court on March 31, according to WFMY. He remained silent throughout the court appearance, WGHP reported. The investigation remains ongoing.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Ex-Christian School Teacher Accused of Using AI to Put Students’ Faces onto Explicit Images
Investigators began their probe after Google submitted multiple cyber tips to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 4, 2026 8:01 am ET
Richard Upright (via Guilford County Sheriff's Office)
GREENSBORO, NC — A North Carolina judge set a $750,000 secured bond Monday for a former teacher at Vandalia Christian School accused of using artificial intelligence and photo-editing software to superimpose students’ faces onto child sexual abuse material.
Richard Lynn Upright, 56, appeared in court for the first time following his Feb. 27 arrest on 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, as reported by WXII 12 News and WGHP FOX8.
The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received cyber tips from Google and notified local authorities, according to WXII.
WFMY reported that seven separate cyber tips were submitted by Google to NCMEC, triggering a chain of review that routed the information through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation before reaching the sheriff’s office. Investigators later subpoenaed Charter Communications and confirmed the IP address tied to the Google Drive account was registered to Upright’s home on Pleasant Garden Road, less than a mile from the school, WFMY reported.
Detectives testified in court that they identified 111 confirmed images of child sexual abuse material connected to Upright across the seven tips, according to WFMY.
WXII similarly reported that a detective revealed during Monday’s hearing that 111 sexual images were found on his devices.
Search warrants were executed Feb. 27 at both Upright’s home and at the school, according to WFMY and WGHP. During testimony, a detective described how many of the images were manipulated photographs.
“A search warrant was executed at the Vandalia Christian school on Feb. 27. At that time, we discovered that the faces of many of these cyber tips that I’ve viewed were actually photoshop photographs with his students’ heads on the images of child pornography,” a detective with the sheriff’s office said in court, according to WGHP.
Investigators said Upright had taken photos of students and placed their faces over nude and sexually explicit images, using AI and photo-editing tools before storing the altered files on his Google Drive, WGHP reported. WXII also reported that detectives said Upright photoshopped minors’ faces onto sensitive sexual photos that were AI-generated.
According to WGHP, Upright was still employed at the school when the investigation began Feb. 23. He was fired after the charges were filed. Court documents listed at least one victim as an unknown juvenile female, WGHP reported, and it remains unclear how many victims may be involved or whether all were students. A court document cited by WGHP states that some of the material was created in a classroom, though it does not specify whether it occurred at Vandalia Christian School.
WXII reported that Upright’s only prior offense was a 2002 speeding ticket.
During Monday’s hearing, the judge acknowledged the emotional nature of the allegations but emphasized that bond must be set according to the law and evidence, WFMY reported. Second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor is a Class E felony in North Carolina, carrying a maximum sentence of 136 months in prison per count. Citing sentencing guidelines recommending a secured bond range of $15,000 to $75,000 for a Class E felony, the judge applied that range to each of the 10 charges and set bond at $750,000, according to WFMY.
A father of two girls who had Upright as a teacher addressed the court and urged the judge not to release him, according to WFMY, WXII and WGHP. One daughter is currently in his class, while the other had him as a teacher six years ago.
“My current daughter was his student this year, and, as a father, not being able to protect my child from that and then to see this, it’s a trial on my family,” the father said, according to WGHP. “She’s going back to school today … I had to be there for her at lunch time to make sure that she was OK walking from class to lunch. My wife had to go down there this morning to make sure she got into class OK and that she was alright.”
“Not being able to protect my child from that and being able to see this,” the father said, “is trying,” WFMY reported.
Upright, who was appointed a public defender, waived a probable-cause hearing and is scheduled to return to Guilford County district court on March 31, according to WFMY. He remained silent throughout the court appearance, WGHP reported. The investigation remains ongoing.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Ex-Christian School Teacher Accused of Using AI to Put Students’ Faces onto Explicit Images
Investigators began their probe after Google submitted multiple cyber tips to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 4, 2026 8:01 am ET
Richard Upright (via Guilford County Sheriff's Office)
GREENSBORO, NC — A North Carolina judge set a $750,000 secured bond Monday for a former teacher at Vandalia Christian School accused of using artificial intelligence and photo-editing software to superimpose students’ faces onto child sexual abuse material.
Richard Lynn Upright, 56, appeared in court for the first time following his Feb. 27 arrest on 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, as reported by WXII 12 News and WGHP FOX8.
The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received cyber tips from Google and notified local authorities, according to WXII.
WFMY reported that seven separate cyber tips were submitted by Google to NCMEC, triggering a chain of review that routed the information through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation before reaching the sheriff’s office. Investigators later subpoenaed Charter Communications and confirmed the IP address tied to the Google Drive account was registered to Upright’s home on Pleasant Garden Road, less than a mile from the school, WFMY reported.
Detectives testified in court that they identified 111 confirmed images of child sexual abuse material connected to Upright across the seven tips, according to WFMY.
WXII similarly reported that a detective revealed during Monday’s hearing that 111 sexual images were found on his devices.
Search warrants were executed Feb. 27 at both Upright’s home and at the school, according to WFMY and WGHP. During testimony, a detective described how many of the images were manipulated photographs.
“A search warrant was executed at the Vandalia Christian school on Feb. 27. At that time, we discovered that the faces of many of these cyber tips that I’ve viewed were actually photoshop photographs with his students’ heads on the images of child pornography,” a detective with the sheriff’s office said in court, according to WGHP.
Investigators said Upright had taken photos of students and placed their faces over nude and sexually explicit images, using AI and photo-editing tools before storing the altered files on his Google Drive, WGHP reported. WXII also reported that detectives said Upright photoshopped minors’ faces onto sensitive sexual photos that were AI-generated.
According to WGHP, Upright was still employed at the school when the investigation began Feb. 23. He was fired after the charges were filed. Court documents listed at least one victim as an unknown juvenile female, WGHP reported, and it remains unclear how many victims may be involved or whether all were students. A court document cited by WGHP states that some of the material was created in a classroom, though it does not specify whether it occurred at Vandalia Christian School.
WXII reported that Upright’s only prior offense was a 2002 speeding ticket.
During Monday’s hearing, the judge acknowledged the emotional nature of the allegations but emphasized that bond must be set according to the law and evidence, WFMY reported. Second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor is a Class E felony in North Carolina, carrying a maximum sentence of 136 months in prison per count. Citing sentencing guidelines recommending a secured bond range of $15,000 to $75,000 for a Class E felony, the judge applied that range to each of the 10 charges and set bond at $750,000, according to WFMY.
A father of two girls who had Upright as a teacher addressed the court and urged the judge not to release him, according to WFMY, WXII and WGHP. One daughter is currently in his class, while the other had him as a teacher six years ago.
“My current daughter was his student this year, and, as a father, not being able to protect my child from that and then to see this, it’s a trial on my family,” the father said, according to WGHP. “She’s going back to school today … I had to be there for her at lunch time to make sure that she was OK walking from class to lunch. My wife had to go down there this morning to make sure she got into class OK and that she was alright.”
“Not being able to protect my child from that and being able to see this,” the father said, “is trying,” WFMY reported.
Upright, who was appointed a public defender, waived a probable-cause hearing and is scheduled to return to Guilford County district court on March 31, according to WFMY. He remained silent throughout the court appearance, WGHP reported. The investigation remains ongoing.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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