More sex charges may be filed against former Joplin South MIddle School teacher

Today was supposed to be the day former South Middle School eighth grade science teacher Charles Dominic Gastel pleaded guilty to child pornography charges, but things did not quite work out that way.

Gastel's attorney filed a motion for a continuance today in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, saying that the government has told him more charges are on the way.

Additional time is necessary to investigate all legal issues regarding this case. Furthermore, the attorney for the United States has informed undersigned counsel that further charges may be forthcoming.

According to the indictment against Gastel, between January 1, 2009, and January 1, 2011, Gastel “engaged in sexually explicit conduct” with an underaged girl and made videos of the acts.

Gastel, who resigned his position with the Joplin R-8 School District at the end of the 2012-2013 school year, was initially charged with the crime on July 26.

An affidavit signed by Detective Tim Williams of the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force indicates Gastel was arrested following an investigation that started with a sexual assault complaint July 15 in Carterville.