School psychologist faces multiple child pornography charges

A Nye County school psychologist has been charged with producing and possession of child pornography and faces related charges in Arizona.

Perry Hood, 69, a former Round Mountain junior varsity basketball coach, is a psychologist who worked with students in Beatty, Tonopah, Round Mountain, Duckwater and Gabbs.

Police raided Hood's home in Tonopah last week. They said they seized explicit photos of girls engaged in sexual acts and photos of a girl tied to a bed .

After his Jan. 22 arrest, Hood reportedly told investigators the photographs were research he was doing to better understand young victims of sexual abuse.

According to a Nye County School District statement, Hood has been removed as school psychologist pending further investigation. His name, contact information and biography were removed from the district's website Monday .

Nye County authorities began their investigation after they were contacted by police in Peoria, Ariz., where Hood is accused of luring a child into posing in an explicit manner as he photographed her.

Police reports indicate that besides downloading child pornography from the Internet, Hood is suspected of arranging for children in Round Mountain, where he lived until recently, to pose for photos.

The Nye County district attorney's office has filed one count of use of a minor in producing pornography or as subject of sexual portrayal in performance and four counts of possession of child pornography. Hood, who faces multiple felony charges in Arizona, is being held in lieu of $1 million bond .

Contact Pahrump Valley Times reporter Karen Givens at kgivens@pvtimes.com.