Nic Employee Resigns Under Child Porn Probe Allegedly Had Shots Of Naked Minors Stored In His Office Computer

A North Idaho College employee resigned Friday amid allegations that child pornography was found on his office computer.

Police are investigating a report that four pictures found on the 29-year-old employee’s computer by college technicians depict naked or partially clothed minors. Three showed minors engaged in sex acts.

Detectives reviewing the files believe there may be more. “At this point, it appears to go far beyond the four pictures,” police Capt. Carl Bergh said.

The employee’s name has not been released by the college or police. He has not been arrested or charged with a crime.

It was not clear how the man was employed by the college, but he was not a professor, police said. School officials did not say what position the man held.

College computer technicians discovered the pictures while doing routine maintenance on the computer, said Steve Schenk, the school’s dean of college relations.

Jerry Gee, NIC dean of instruction, confronted the employee Wednesday about the discovery.

Gee said the employee initially admitted to storing nude pictures of movie stars on his computer, according to a police report. While Gee was opening a file labeled “Hot Stuff” the employee admitted that “this picture will be of kiddie pornography that someone sent me,” the report said.

The employee was suspended Wednesday and escorted off campus, the school said. Police also were called.

Police reports indicate the four pictures in the file were downloaded from the Internet on March 19 and 20 during school hours.

Detectives are reviewing other files on his computer and will forward their findings to the prosecutor’s office, Bergh said.

“There are a number of files that need to be gone through, and we are working in conjunction with the college,” he said.

Investigators have not questioned the employee, who reportedly has hired an attorney. He has told police he plans to cooperate with the investigation, Bergh said.

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