JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Former elementary school teacher Thomas Hazouri Jr. appeared in federal court Thursday wearing leg chains and a red jumpsuit, and pleaded not guilty to a single charge of distributing sexually explicit images of minors.
If convicted, the former Mayport Elementary School teacher faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, but could serve up to life. He would also face fines and fees of more than $250,000.
Hazouri, 40, was arrested in August on 25 state charges of possession of sexually explicit photos and videos of children, and later rearrested based on similar allegations in a federal criminal complaint. But because the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed the work of the grand jury, he was not formally charged until this week.
The single count in the federal indictment says Hazouri “did knowingly distribute visual depictions using any means and facility of interstate commerce, when the production of the visual depictions involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct and the visual depictions were of such conduct.”
Hazouri is the son of former mayor and current City Council President Tommy Hazouri.
He was reassigned by the Duval County school district in early August, when they were notified he was under investigation.
Hazouri spoke only briefly in court. He said he was taking medications to treat depression and anxiety as well as a third drug as a "mood stabilizer."
The case has been assigned to District Judge Timothy Corrigan. A trial date is set for Nov. 2.