Bullard High photography teacher charged for sexual exploitation of Fresno student
A Bullard High School teacher has been charged with three counts after investigators accused him of sexually exploiting a Fresno student on campus, federal prosecutors said Thursday.
Ray Anthony Waller, who taught photography at Bullard, faces counts of sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child sexual abuse images and sending obscene material to a minor, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced in a news release.
Waller’s attorney was not reachable on Thursday. He was no longer employed by the school, according to prosecutors.
The 37-year-old was accused of sending sexually explicit text messages to a teen girl between November and February before Fresno police announced his arrest on Feb. 21.
In the text messages, sent between November and February, he allegedly described sexual acts he wanted to do with the teen, court records say. The girl believed he got her cellphone number from a permission slip, according to the complaint.
Investigators said they found multiple photos and videos of the teen posing nude or engaging in other sexually explicit conduct on a “burner” phone belonging to Waller, records say. The teen also received explicit images from Waller, according to the complaint.
One text message read, in part: “It’s not rape if you’re smiling ...”
They engaged in sexual activity in the photo studio on campus, the court filing says.
The Fresno Unified School District did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This story was originally published June 26, 2025 at 1:33 PM.
