LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California middle school teacher was charged with distributing child pornography after he met an undercover agent in his classroom to look at sexually explicit images, authorities said Thursday.

John David Boyle, 49, of Glendora was arrested Wednesday. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison.

Boyle was scheduled to appear in court later Thursday. It could not be immediately determined if he has an attorney.

Boyle was placed on administrative leave after 13 years with the Charter Oak Unified School District in the East San Gabriel Valley, where he teaches eighth-grade English, Superintendent Mike Hendricks said.

Hendricks said there was no indication that any of Boyle's students had been victimized. However, federal authorities said Boyle may have molested some of his students.

Boyle denied molesting boys to authorities. But a search of his video chat account showed a conversation in which he told another user that he had sexually abused his students, according to court documents.

He has not been charged with molestation.

Authorities said Boyle was involved for more than a month in online chats with the agent who used the identity of a person targeted by authorities in an unrelated investigation.

The two discussed their sexual interest in boys before meeting Sunday at his classroom at Royal Oak Middle School in Covina — two days after classes ended for summer break.

Court documents state that Boyle believed they were going to watch child pornography and have sex.

The agent said he gave a computer thumb drive to Boyle who began to upload the illegal, encrypted files onto a laptop.

Court documents also indicate he told authorities that he collects child pornography and has done video chats with boys who appear to be as young as 13.

Authorities also said they found several child porn videos on Boyle's laptop computer and a thumb drive.