Former Science Teacher Sentenced for Attempting to Pay for Sex With Children ‘The Younger the Better’

A former high school science teacher was sentenced to ten years in prison this week after pleading guilty to attempting to pay for sex with underage females.

Sean Stevenson, a former University City High School science teacher, was sentenced Thursday, Sept. 5, according to a Department of Justice press release. He pleaded guilty on June 13.

An undercover detective caught Stevenson, 58, in October of last year. According to a June press release from the Department of Justice, Stevenson was detained after believing he had successfully arranged a rendezvous to have sex with a 16-year-old girl through other people. Instead, Stevenson was texting with an undercover detective who detained him when they met up.

According to the DOJ, Stevenson texted the undercover officer several incriminating messages, including: “I don’t suppose you know in[sic] younger girls I could pay u a premium for?”; “I pay u a finders fee and I pay her”; “The younger the better”; and “Just keep it in mind if you come across any high school age girls.”

According to a June news release from the Justice Department, when the undercover officer recommended Stevenson meet up with an 18-year-old female, the 58-year-old man said, “Not young enough.”

Authorities began investigating Stevenson when a pimp and a sex worker were arrested in a separate case in April 2023, according to NBC San Diego, which reported earlier this summer based on court papers.

According to the Justice Department, Stevenson had $140 in cash in his car when he was arrested last October after arriving for what he believed to be a rendezvous with the 16-year-old girl.

Once Stevenson is released from jail, he must register as a sex offender and will be subject to supervised release for another 15 years, according to local CNS in San Diego.

Stevenson’s defense attorney, Dana Grimes, wrote in a sentencing memorandum to U.S. District Judge Anthony Battaglia that the former teacher “is immensely remorseful for his conduct underpinning this case and has accepted the fact that his life as he knew it, including his career and a significant amount of his freedom, is over.”

Stevenson also promised to reform, according to CNS.

“I’m horrified by my actions and will gladly participate in any programs that the government deems necessary,” the former high school teacher told the judge before his sentencing. “You will never see me again under these circumstances.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or visit rainn.org.