Chesterfield teachers accused of filming students in school bathrooms: court docs

Editor's Note: This article contains discussion of child sexual abuse, including both the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Viewer discretion is advised.

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The two Chesterfield County teachers accused of dozens of child sex crimes allegedly exchanged explicit photos and videos of children being sexually abused, per court documents -- some of which were taken in school bathrooms.

On Friday, Aug. 22, the Colonial Heights Police Department announced that 49-year-old Shaun Jason Adams of Petersburg, and 33-year-old Richard Franklin Troshak, III of Chesterfield had been hit with a combined total of 41 child sex abuse charges, including dozens of felony counts of manufacturing child sex abuse material (CSAM).

The investigation into these two men began in late July, when Adams was accused of taking photos of a juvenile in the bathroom of a Regal Cinema in Colonial Heights. A search warrant was executed on his home, with police saying at the time that additional charges were possible.

Shaun Adams. (Photo: Colonial Heights Police Department)

Richard Troshak, III. (Photo: Colonial Heights Police Department)

According to court documents obtained by 8News, investigators received a tip following this initial incident recommending they look into Troshak, claiming he and Adam were sending "concerning messages [to] underaged children that were previous students of theirs."

At the time of these alleged crimes, both Adams and Troshak were teachers within Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS). Adams was a teacher at Elizabeth Davis Middle School, while Troshak was a teacher at Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy. Investigators also learned that Adams and Troshak previously worked together at Tuckaway Daycare.

Court documents: Photos, videos and discussions of child sex abuse

Investigators reportedly examined data from Adams' cell phone and found "a thread of sexually explicit messages about children," as well as "multiple images and videos of [CSAM]," shared between Adams and a phone number later determined to belong to Troshak.

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Examples of the text messages Adams and Troshak are accused of exchanging are provided within court documents. They include discussions of sexually abusing children under their care.

One text refers to a "Tuckaway kid before you started" -- seemingly a child who attended Tuckaway Daycare.

"Black hoodie went to the bathroom but left door cracked and I was trying to see through," another text reads.

Regarding the photos and videos the two allegedly exchanged, some depicted boys "clearly under the age of 13 years old engaged in sexual acts with Adams and/or Troshak present," court documents state.

Other pictures and videos depicted these boys while they were using both public and school bathrooms, according to court documents. No further information, such as what school or schools this content may have been filmed at, is provided.

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These alleged crimes are believed to have taken place between Nov. 2024 and July of this year, per court documents.

Chesterfield Schools' response to these arrests

CCPS superintendent John Murray issued a statement on Friday saying that both Adams and Troshak were to be "immediately terminated from employment with appropriate due process." 8News reached out to the school district for further clarity on what this due process entails, but has not heard back as of the time of reporting.

In his statement, Murray added that an investigation is being opened and that all Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy employees are to be reviewed.

Additionally, the preschool's principal and assistant principal have been put on administrative leave.

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Adams and Troshak are being held at Riverside Regional Jail without bond pending their next court appearance.

If you have any information on these crimes, you are asked to contact the Colonial Heights Police Department’s Senior Detective M. N. Davis at 804-898-3066.

You can also reach out to the Chesterfield County Police Department by calling 804-748-1251.

"The Chesterfield County Police Department has already begun its investigation and urges anyone with information to contact police immediately," said Chesterfield Chief of Police Col. Frank Carpenter on Friday.

"We are committed to protecting the vulnerable in our community, and we will work with our local, state and school partners to thoroughly investigate, leaving no stone unturned and bringing any and all perpetrators to justice.”