Former Canterbury teacher sentenced to 23 years in prison for child porn

Writer: Nicholas Karsen
Published: Updated:
Thomas Deane
Thomas Deane’s mugshot. Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office

Thomas Deane, a former Canterbury teacher who had been on the run for possessing child pornography, has been sentenced to 23 years in prison.

According to the Florida State Attorney’s Office, the former lacrosse coach and teacher was arrested in May 2022 after the Lee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at his Bonita Springs apartment as part of an investigation. 

Following his arrest, Deane bonded out and was fitted with a GPS tracking device on his ankle.

He was then scheduled to appear in court on March 11, 2024; however, he failed to show up.

It was discovered that Deane had cut off his tracking device and escaped to Miami-Dade County.

With the help of the Miami-Dade Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service was surveilling Deane when they approached him in an unmarked Chevrolet as he rode a scooter in the northern part of the county on April 10.

Miami-Dade police then arrested Deane; as he was being taken into custody, Deane stated: “I didn’t want to go to prison for life.”

Deane was convicted on 19 counts of possession of child pornography.

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