WAYNE COUNTY, N.C. — One year ago, Hugh Pate Jr. was teacher of the year at Greenwood Middle School in Goldsboro. Now, the State Bureau of Investigation is investigating allegations that he distributed a series of pornographic images involving children from his home computer.

Twenty-four images are the focus of the investigation. They show children ranging from 3 years old to 15 years old. The children, both male and female, are shown performing sex acts on adults and on each other.

Pate is charged with 48 counts of exploitation of a minor -- one count for possessing each picture and one count for distributing it.

Last fall, the SBI received a tip from the

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

and America Online that led them to Goldsboro and Pate.

Pate resigned from his job as choir teacher at Greenwood Middle School three to four months ago about the same time that tip came in.

The SBI said there is no indication that Pate produced the pictures or that local children were involved. A search warrant indicates agents seized a computer and paperwork from his home in October. His wife said the two of them have split up and that he no longer lives with her.

A warrant is out for his arrest, but he has not yet been taken into custody.

Pate taught with Wayne County schools for five years. He resigned the same week agents searched his home. A search of his records shows that he has a pending DUI case, but no other criminal history.