The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has affirmed the conviction and life sentence of Stefan Eberhard Zappey, a former elementary school teacher convicted of multiple counts of aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact with children under the age of 12. The federal appeals court rejected Zappey's challenge to his conviction in a decision filed Jan. 21, 2026.
Zappey, who worked as a German language immersion teacher at Patch Elementary School on a U.S. military base near Stuttgart, Germany, was found guilty after a jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The charges against him included violations of federal statutes governing aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact with minors, specifically 18 U.S.C. §§ 3261, 2241(c), and 2244(a)(5).
For two decades, the U.S. Department of Defense employed Zappey to teach German language immersion classes to children at the American school, which served families stationed at the military installation. As part of the language immersion program, Zappey taught students in first through third grades, providing him with regular access to young children in an educational setting.
The case was prosecuted under federal jurisdiction due to Zappey's employment with the Department of Defense and the location of the alleged crimes on a U.S. military installation overseas. Federal statutes provide jurisdiction for crimes committed by U.S. personnel on military bases abroad, allowing for prosecution in U.S. courts even when the underlying conduct occurred in foreign countries.
On appeal, Zappey challenged several evidentiary rulings made by the district court during his trial. Specifically, he argued that the trial court improperly excluded certain expert testimony that he contended was crucial to his defense strategy. According to the appeals court opinion, Zappey maintained that these evidentiary exclusions undermined his ability to present an adequate defense to the charges.
The Eleventh Circuit panel, consisting of Circuit Judges Rosenbaum, Abudu, and Wilson, conducted a thorough review of the trial record and considered briefs submitted by both parties. The court also heard oral arguments before reaching its decision to affirm the lower court's ruling.
In the opinion authored by Circuit Judge Abudu, the appeals court found that the district court's evidentiary rulings were proper and did not constitute reversible error. The panel determined that Zappey's constitutional rights were not violated during the trial proceedings and that his conviction was supported by sufficient evidence presented to the jury.
The federal charges in this case carry severe penalties, reflecting the serious nature of crimes involving the sexual abuse of children. The life sentence imposed on Zappey demonstrates the federal court system's approach to cases involving the exploitation of minors, particularly when such crimes occur in institutional settings where adults hold positions of trust and authority over children.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about child protection in educational environments, especially in overseas settings where American children may be particularly vulnerable. Department of Defense schools serve military families stationed around the world, and ensuring the safety of children in these educational settings remains a critical priority for military leadership and federal prosecutors.
Federal jurisdiction in cases like this allows for consistent application of U.S. law regardless of where American personnel are stationed globally. The ability to prosecute crimes committed on military installations overseas in U.S. federal courts ensures that American children receive the same legal protections abroad as they would receive within the continental United States.
The affirmation of Zappey's conviction by the Eleventh Circuit closes an important chapter in this case, though the decision may still be subject to further appeal. The Supreme Court could potentially review the case if Zappey chooses to file a petition for certiorari, though such petitions are granted infrequently and typically only in cases involving significant legal questions or conflicts between circuit courts.
The case serves as a reminder of the federal government's commitment to prosecuting crimes against children, particularly when such crimes involve individuals in positions of trust within government institutions. The successful prosecution and appeal affirmation demonstrate the effectiveness of federal law enforcement cooperation across international boundaries in protecting American children from predatory behavior.
For military families, the case underscores the importance of robust background screening and ongoing oversight of personnel who work with children in Department of Defense educational facilities. The conviction and lengthy sentence in this case may serve as a deterrent to others who might consider similar criminal conduct while in positions of authority over vulnerable children.