Issaquah School District bus driver faces child pornography charges

An Issaquah School District bus driver and former science teacher at Eastside Catholic School has been charged with possessing and distributing child pornography.

Police arrested Andrew Bernard Rekdahl, 29, May 10, after federal agents determined that he was downloading the videos and photos from his Carnation home, according to the charging papers.

Homeland Security investigators told the district that they did not believe Rekdahl did anything illegal or inappropriate while he was driving bus routes.

In January, undercover agents contacted Rekdahl online, after discovering he had a folder with the pornography available for download.

Using the name "Hboyandy," prosecutors say he handed over the password to gain access to the folder.

Police tracked him using his IP address, and discovered he was the only one who had access to that Internet account.

A search of his home turned up 194 child-pornography related files that included boys ages 3 to 13. When police arrested him at his work, he admitted to downloading and distributing the illegal material, according to the papers.

The district is still reviewing all the bus security videos. He was hired as a substitute driver in November, although didn't begin driving students on his own until February.

When the district hired Rekdahl, he was cleared through mandatory state and federal background checks. The district never received complaints or concerns about him.

In 2010 Rekdahl went through surgery for intestinal cancer, and students raised $17,000 to help pay medical bills. He also worked a brief stint at St. Joseph's School.

Contact Issaquah Reporter Staff Writer Celeste Gracey at cgracey@issaquahreporter.com or 425-391-0363.

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