Preschool employee in Harrisonburg arrested for alleged possession of child sexual abuse material

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- A Rockingham County man employed at a Harrisonburg preschool is facing multiple charges for alleged possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) after police said explicit images of a young child were found on his cellphone.

According to a March 31 press release from the Harrisonburg Police Department, the investigation started on Feb. 23, when the United States Secret Service (USSS) forwarded information to the police department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) about a cryptocurrency account used to buy CSAM.

On March 4, investigators confirmed that the account belonged to 28-year-old Zachary Harger, of Rockingham County. According to police, Harger was a person the Harrisonburg Police Department began investigating after a complaint was made against him related to inappropriate conduct with a child.

Police started working with the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office following this new information from the USSS, and authorities executed a search warrant on March 13.

Harrisonburg Police Department digital forensic examiners discovered explicit images of a young child on Harger’s cellphone during the investigation, police said.

The images are believed to have been taken inside a bathroom of the preschool where Harger worked, and allegedly depicted a preschool student there.

The child's family was notified with the help of Child Protective Services and victim services personnel.

Police said Harger has been charged with four felony offenses, including three counts of manufacturing child pornography between Aug. 20, 2025, and Nov. 25, 2025, and one count of unlawful filming.

"HPD officials have been communicating directly with the school administration and Harrisonburg City Public Schools related to the investigation," police wrote. "Their assistance and cooperation has been vital, and we appreciate their continued partnership as we work to ensure student safety and support a thorough, timely investigation."

8News has reached out to Harrisonburg City Public Schools for comment.