CHIPPEWA TWP — The head coach of Freedom High School’s football team resigned Thursday after he was arrested on child pornography charges.

J. Russell Barley, 59, of Beaver Falls is charged with dissemination of a photo or film of child sex acts, child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility stemming from a search by the BCI North West Computer Crime Task Force and state police in Beaver County.

According to the complaint, officers served a search warrant on Barley’s home for possession and distribution of child pornography.

According to the complaint, Barley allegedly told authorities that several months ago he became curious about child pornography and downloaded it using the file sharing software Bit Torrent. He said he did not share any videos or photos, but authorities informed him that when using that software the files are shared with others. Barley said he had since deleted the videos, “because he knew what he was doing was wrong.”

Officers searched Barley’s computer, where they allegedly found a video of a 14-year-old girl topless and wearing a G-string with her buttocks and pubic area exposed, the complaint states.

Barley was arraigned by District Judge Tim Finn, who set a $25,000 unsecured bail and a Nov. 8 preliminary hearing date.

Following the arrest, Barley was suspended from his head coaching position, according to Jeffrey Fuller, Freedom School District superintendent. In a letter, Fuller said Barley subsequently resigned from his role with the district.

Barley was also a teacher in the Neshannock Township School District, and is listed as a math instructor at the senior high school on the district’s website. District officials said he was likewise suspended from the district and submitted his resignation.

Both Freedom and Neshannock school district officials said no students were involved in the incident.