Ohio - Crime lab considers child pornography cases 'critical'
Investigators reviewing computer of former Edgewood teacher who resigned amid allegations he was viewing inappropriate images.
From The Oxford Press (online). By Denise Wilson, Staff Writer. 06/14/07
A Dayton crime lab says it gets very few requests by school districts to analyze computers to determine whether an employee has been viewing pornographic images. "But we do see a tremendous amount of child pornography and pornography in general," particularly in the workplace in city and county organizations, said Ken Betz, director of the Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory and the Montgomery County Coroner's Office. Betz said if cases involve child pornography — because of federal laws against either possession or distribution — they are considered "critical." "Because every one of those children are victims and if we have a case involving child pornography that's a high priority case for us because it's a child at-risk case."
The Trenton Police Division recently sent an Edgewood City School District computer used by a former first-grade Bloomfield Elementary School teacher to the Dayton crime lab for analysis. Chris Beiser, who resigned May 31, was accused of viewing either adult or child pornographic images while students were in his classroom, according to police and school officials. No charges have been filed against Beiser, 42, who was hired as a first-grade teacher in June 2000 in the Edgewood district. His personnel file indicates no history of disciplinary action. Betz said upon receiving the computer from Trenton police the locally funded lab transferred it to the Miami Valley Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, also in Dayton, which it is partnering with on the case.
The forensics laboratory is a one-stop, full-service forensics laboratory and training center devoted entirely to the examination of digital evidence in support of criminal investigations involving, but not limited to terrorism, child pornography, homicide, violent crimes, the theft or destruction of intellectual property and Internet crime. Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory and other participating agencies contribute personnel and resources to staff and maintain the operations of the regional crime lab, which is sponsored by the FBI.
Betz said he is not able to discuss the Beiser case, but confirmed there has been some preliminary work done in conjunction with Trenton police. "If they find something of a nature that requires immediate attention that case would be immediately worked." If the analysis of the computer determines adult pornography sites were visited then the issue will come down to Edgewood schools' policy on viewing that material, Betz said, because it would not be a crime. Trenton police Chief Carl Ray said that the analysis of Beiser's computer would take about three months to complete. Betz said the work is being paid for with funds from the FBI, which is a branch of the Department of Justice.
Using remote desktop software, Edgewood's technology department reportedly observed Beiser viewing explicit images on his computer on May 29, according to district officials. The computer was turned over to police two days later after district officials reported the allegations to them.
Beiser was immediately removed from his classroom, his computer was confiscated and he was placed on paid administrative leave following a pre-disciplinary conference, during which Beiser allegedly refused to answer questions, according to district officials. On May 31, he submitted his letter of resignation. The district has filed a misconduct report with the Ohio Department of Education. Edgewood Schools technology policy prohibits accessing inappropriate material.
In March, the Ohio Legislature passed House Bill 79, which requires school districts and other education entities to report matters of professional misconduct to ODE.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2595 or dewilson@coxohio.com.