Former Salina Teacher, Wrestling Coach Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Exploitation Charges

A former Salina middle school teacher and high school wrestling coach has pleaded guilty to three federal child exploitation charges after investigators determined he secretly recorded minors in locker room showers at multiple Kansas wrestling tournaments.

Ryan Brungardt, 38, formerly employed at Lakewood Middle School and a wrestling coach at Salina Central High School, entered his guilty plea Wednesday, October 14, in U.S. District Court. According to federal court records, Brungardt faces between 35 and 40 years in federal prison under the terms of his plea agreement.

Investigation Identified 25 Minors in Recordings

According to the plea agreement, investigators recovered 71 videos depicting 25 identifiable minors, with the youngest victim being 14 years old. Additional recordings showed unidentified minors in locker rooms, along with footage of a minor showering in what appeared to be a residential setting.

Investigators determined the recordings were made during four wrestling tournaments in January 2024, including events in Newton on January 13, Rose Hill on January 18, Hays on January 20 and Garden City on January 27.

The investigation began after several students reported concerns to school officials that a coach might have been recording them while they showered. Those reports prompted law enforcement to question Brungardt at Lakewood Middle School, where he was employed at the time.

Phone Destroyed During Police Investigation

Federal court records describe an incident in which Brungardt attempted to destroy evidence after investigators confronted him at the middle school.

According to the records, law enforcement officers seized Brungardt's cellphone and questioned him about the allegations. Following the interview, Brungardt took the phone back from investigators and broke it in half.

The damaged phone caught fire, resulting in an evacuation of Lakewood Middle School.

Despite the damage, investigators were able to recover dozens of recordings from the device, providing additional evidence in the federal investigation.

Federal Charges and Guilty Plea

Brungardt initially faced federal charges in March 2026 following an investigation involving the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Salina Police Department and Newton Police Department.

A federal grand jury subsequently indicted him on three counts of producing child pornography and one count of attempted production after investigators identified additional alleged victims.

On October 14, Brungardt pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a child involving the production of child pornography.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Brungardt faces 35 to 40 years in federal prison and will be required to register as a sex offender for life. His guilty plea does not constitute a final sentence, which must be imposed by the federal court.

Investigation Spanned Multiple Kansas Communities

The investigation extended beyond Salina and Newton as authorities examined recordings believed to have been made at wrestling events across Kansas during the 2023–2024 school year.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation previously requested information from individuals who witnessed suspicious activity at wrestling tournaments in Newton, Hays, Garden City and Salina.

The case involved the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Salina Police Department and Newton Police Department, with federal prosecutors pursuing the criminal charges.