CARLSBAD — A Carlsbad educator was arrested and booked into county jail this week following a California Department of Justice investigation involving alleged child sexual abuse material, according to a complaint filed in Vista Superior Court.
Joseph Anthony Zyburt, 55, a math teacher at La Costa Canyon High School, is charged with two felony counts of possession of child or youth pornography and one felony count of attempted possession of the material, according to a Jan. 26 felony complaint seeking an arrest warrant.
Prosecutors from the state Attorney General’s Office allege Zyburt possessed the material on both a desktop computer and a cellular phone and attempted to purchase additional material online.
The alleged offenses occurred between October 2024 and September 2025, according to the complaint, which cites purchases flagged during an internet investigation and the subsequent seizure of electronic devices linked to Zyburt.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the arrest, saying investigators from the state DOJ executed search warrants and uncovered evidence supporting the charges.
“When someone who is entrusted with the care of our youth is revealed to be harboring child sexual abuse material, it is not only a crime, but also a betrayal of trust,” Bonta said in a statement.
“… Protecting the most vulnerable among us is not just a responsibility of this office, it is a moral obligation,” he continued. “My office stands ready and fully committed to continuing this fight with the help of our law enforcement partners. We will work tirelessly to hold offenders accountable and to ensure that our children are protected, supported, and given the safe future they deserve.”
The Carlsbad Police Department and the FBI’s Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory assisted in the investigation. The California DOJ’s Special Prosecutions Section was handling the case.
Superintendent Anne Staffieri of the San Dieguito Union High School District said the district was notified Wednesday morning of Zyburt’s arrest. In September 2025, the district learned that law enforcement had opened an investigation into Zyburt, and he was immediately removed from the classroom and placed on administrative leave.
“This news is deeply disturbing and the district hopes justice will be served,” Staffieri said.
The district said it has no additional information beyond what Bonta announced in a press release regarding the arrest.
“We appreciate the outstanding work and professionalism of the Department of Justice, whose thorough investigation was instrumental in this arrest,” said Carlsbad Police Chief Christie Calderwood in a statement. “This case highlights the importance of strong interagency partnerships in keeping our communities safe.”
The complaint also alleges aggravating factors, including that the offenses occurred while Zyburt held a position of trust and had routine contact with minors.
Bail information for the suspect was not immediately available, nor was his next scheduled court date.
City News Service contributed to this report.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly featured a photo of Carlsbad High School. We have corrected the image and sincerely regret the error.
