James Earl Cude
Dallas County Jail
A Mesquite music teacher was sentenced Thursday to 14 years in federal prison for child exploitation. Reportedly, 55-year-old James Earle Cude had pleaded guilty in August to receipt of child pornography. Cude served as a band director at North Mesquite High School. Cude was arrested at a coffee shop last February after exchanging explicit messages with who he thought was a 13-year-old boy. Cude’s messages were actually sent to an undercover agent.