|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
December 28, 2004Supervisor won't face charges in child pornography allegationsByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - Garfield Township's supervisor will face no criminal charges for allegedly having child pornography on his personal computers at home. A two-month investigation by the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office failed to turn up enough evidence to issue charges against Lee Wilson, Prosecutor-elect Alan Schneider said. Township officials still have to decide whether any disciplinary action will be taken for adult images found on Wilson's office computer. Sheriff's detectives seized computers from Wilson's home on Oct. 12 after receiving a tip from his estranged wife, Kathryn Wilson, that the machines allegedly contained child pornography. In the police report turned over to Schneider, Detective Todd Heller said a forensic analysis of Wilson's personal computer found 4,000 to 5,000 pornographic images, all of adults except images found in one file. The file in question, which contained six pictures, was reviewed by a pediatrician who estimated the age of the female to be 10 to 11 years old. Schneider said it was not enough evidence as required by law to prosecute Wilson, 56. "One image of what appears to be child sexually explicit material captured from a temporary Internet file among 4,000 to 5,000 adult pornography images is insufficient evidence that Wilson knowingly/intentionally possessed the prohibited image," Schneider wrote in a letter to the sheriff's office. Neither Wilson, supervisor since 1977, nor his attorneys returned multiple phone messages seeking comment about the prosecutor's decision. On Oct. 12, Heller also searched Wilson's work computer after receiving permission from Treasurer Judy McManus and Trustee Brad Barnes. During his investigation at Garfield Township offices, Heller reported that he found only images of adult pornography. The township's computer and Internet-use policy, established in 1999, calls for messages involving "illegal content" to be reported to Garfield's computer committee or supervisor for investigation and forwarded to "appropriate authorities." Disciplinary action includes a written warning for a first-time violation. Barnes, the township trustee, said the board has not discussed yet whether Wilson could face disciplinary action. "At this point, I don't think we have reviewed the police report," he said. "When we have more of that knowledge in front of us, that would be the time to consider those types of things." Schneider said Kathryn Wilson's recollection about illegal images seen in the past were insufficient to seek charges. Kathryn Wilson told officers on Oct. 8 that she first observed her husband viewing images eight years ago. But Heller said Wilson told him the morning of Oct. 12 that she was "feeling guilty" and left a message for Lee Wilson that "if you want to stay out of prison, you better get rid of your computer." Later that afternoon, Heller said a search of Lee Wilson apartment found a computer system with a tower missing, which was later found at a local computer shop where the computer's hard drive had been replaced. "Given her alleged 'tip-off' to her husband in the context of their pending divorce raises questions regarding her credibility," Schneider said.
|
|
