For Immediate Release
March 17, 2026
Media Contact: Damon Sidur
BOISE, ID — Attorney General Raúl Labrador has announced that investigators with his Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit arrested 34-year-old Benjamin Simms on Thursday March 12th, 2026, on 1 count of possession of child sexual exploitation material and 1 count of lewd and lascivious conduct. At the time of his arrest, Simms was employed as a teacher with American Heritage Charter School in Idaho Falls. The charges are not connected to his employment, and investigators have found no evidence that any students were victimized. The charges listed above are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
“Last week, investigators in my ICAC Unit arrested a man employed with a charter school in Idaho Falls. At this time, we have found no evidence of any student victims,” said Attorney General Labrador. “I’m grateful to our law enforcement partners across eastern Idaho who helped with this arrest and share our commitment to keeping Idaho families safe.”
The ICAC Unit was assisted in this arrest by the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Shelley Police Department, Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Pocatello Police Department, and the Idaho Falls Police Department.
The Attorney General’s ICAC Unit works with the Idaho ICAC Task Force, a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, to investigate and prosecute individuals who use the internet to criminally exploit children.
Parents, educators, and law enforcement officials can find more information and helpful resources at the ICAC website, ICACIdaho.org.
Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children is encouraged to contact local police, the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
About Raúl Labrador
Raúl Labrador is the 33rd Attorney General of Idaho. The Office of the Attorney General provides legal representation for the State of Idaho. This representation is furnished to state agencies, offices and boards in the furtherance of the state's legal interests. The office is part of state government’s executive branch and its duties are laid out in the Idaho Constitution.
