A former counselor at a Panguitch-based boarding school for troubled teens who is charged with sexually abusing several students is now accused in U.S. District Court of producing and possessing child pornography.

A two-count indictment handed down to 29-year-old Eric Allen Glosson by a federal grand jury earlier this month alleges he kept sexual images of children on his computer from March to June and coerced a minor into making pornography. Court documents do not disclose if any of the victims were students at the Silverado Academy where Glosson was employed.

Glosson made his first appearance in federal court on the porn charges Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Robert Braithwaite. He is next scheduled to appear in a St. George courtroom on Dec. 12.

The federal charges follow state charges filed against Glosson, and a civil lawsuit filed in federal court by families of children who Glosson allegedly abused.

Prosecutors in June charged Glosson in 6th District Court with eight counts of second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse for allegedly having sexual relations with youth at Silverado Academy in Garfield County between April 20 and June 18.

He is also charged with one count of second-degree felony custodial sexual relations with a youth receiving state services and one count of third-degree felony dealing in materials harmful to a minor.

Following state charges against Glosson, three families from Nevada, Georgia and Michigan filed a federal lawsuit, alleging Silverado Academy should have done more to keep tabs on Glosson's interactions with students. Their complaint alleges the school failed to protect their children from Glosson, who had been previously fired over concerns he was "too close to the teenagers in the program."

In late 2010, Glosson was rehired as a coach and athletic coordinator and allowed to supervise 13 to 18 year olds, according to the complaint. He then sexually abused numerous teens in locations including their living quarters, the complaint states.

Glosson discouraged students from reporting the abuse by threatening to not recommend the students for an advanced program, the complaint states. He used "bribery, physical force, intimidation and deceit" to cover up his relationships with the students, the complaint states.

The plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit, who are not being identified by The Salt Lake Tribune to protect the identity of the alleged victims, are seeking at least $75,000 in damages.

In a statement released in June following Glosson's arrest, Silverado Academy officials said one student reported the alleged conduct during a Father's Day call to his parents.

"We reported these events to the appropriate state authorities on the same day," academy officials said in a statement. "We are cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation."

Glosson had called authorities on his own in May, telling law enforcement that a youth in Arizona was contacting him via Facebook and "threatening to publicize alleged sexual abuse that Glosson had perpetrated," according to the complaint. Law enforcement came to Silverado Academy to investigate, but the school allowed him to continue working with youth after no immediate arrest took place, the complaint states.

The school offered to provide counseling services to teenagers affected by Glosson's behavior, according to the complaint.

Glosson is next scheduled to appear in state court on Dec. 8 before Judge Wallace Lee.

If convicted on federal charges, Glosson faces a 15-year mandatory minimum prison sentence for the production of pornography charge and up to 10 years in prison for possession of pornography.

mrogers@sltrib.com

Twitter: @mrogers_trib