Fargo South band teacher formally charged with corruption of a minor, child porn

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) - A Fargo South teacher was arrested Saturday and is now facing charges in Cass County Court.

Sebastian Michael Tackling is charged with corruption of a minor and possession of certain materials prohibited. The second charge means the defendant is accused of possessing a video, photograph, or other visual representation that includes sexual conduct by a minor. Both of the charges he faces in Cass County are class C felonies.

Court documents say police were first aware of Tackling, after an officer found him laying on an air mattress with a student, in the back of a vehicle in Riverwood Park, in June of 2022. No charges were filed until someone called police on behalf of the student on November 26, 2022.

The girl says their sexual relationship started in October of 2021, when she was 17-years-old. She told police they had sexual relations at his home and at the basketball court near Lewis and Clark elementary, and that they also sent sexual photos and videos to each other. The student told investigators some of the photo/video exchanges happened at school.

When interviewed by an investigator, Tackling initially denied the allegations of having sexual relations with the student at his home, near Lewis and Clark, or in his office at school. Tackling later admitted to kissing the student at school, saying she “fondled him” in his office at school. Court documents say the teacher admitted to sending and receiving nude photos and videos with the student, calling them “really explicit.”

Tackling made his first court appearance on Monday afternoon. He is currently a band teacher at Fargo South High School. Officials with Fargo Public Schools say they were made aware of Tackling’s arrest on Sunday.

In a statement, district officials say:

“Fargo Public Schools takes all allegations of impropriety committed by staff very seriously. The District will fully cooperate with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation. The safety and security of our students are of paramount importance to Fargo Public Schools; we will not tolerate any employee who engages in any inappropriate behavior.”

Tackling has since been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

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