http://www.justice.gov/usao/txn/PressRel11/weirich_PSC_compl_pr.html
(link not active, page not found on original server: archive of article shown here below)
U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña Northern District of Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA INQUIRIES: KATHY COLVIN
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011 http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/
BOY SCOUT DEN LEADER / KARATE INSTRUCTOR ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSE
No Indication of Any Child Molestation at This Time
FORT WORTH, Texas — Timothy J. Weirich, 41, of Arlington, Texas, was arrested late Thursday, November 17, 2011, on a federal child pornography charge outlined in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas. He remains in federal custody.
According to the complaint, an undercover operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Beaumont, Texas, with assistance from the Houston, Texas Metro Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, identified an IP address linked to a computer at an Arlington, Texas, address that had used file-sharing software to download images and videos of child pornography.
Last week, ICE HSI agents visited that location and interviewed a witness at the residence who allowed agents to examine computers. A preliminary forensic examination conducted on one computer revealed the presence of child pornography.
After the discovery of child pornography, agents located Weirich at his place of employment. He stated that he was the only person responsible for the child pornography found by agents and that his interest in child pornography started out as a curiosity and then progressed into a compulsion he could not control. He also informed agents that he is currently a den leader for the Boy Scouts of America, as well as a karate instructor at his children’s karate class.
While the investigation is ongoing, at this time ICE HSI notes that it is unaware of any child molestation. A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offenses charged, and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge. A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
If convicted of this offense, however, Weirich faces a maximum statutory sentence of not less than five or more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of supervised release. The U.S. Attorney’s office has 30 days to present the matter to a grand jury for indictment.
This matter was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex C. Lewis and Chris R. Wolfe.
(link not active, page not found on original server: archive of article shown here below)
U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña Northern District of Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA INQUIRIES: KATHY COLVIN
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011 http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/
BOY SCOUT DEN LEADER / KARATE INSTRUCTOR ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSE
No Indication of Any Child Molestation at This Time
FORT WORTH, Texas — Timothy J. Weirich, 41, of Arlington, Texas, was arrested late Thursday, November 17, 2011, on a federal child pornography charge outlined in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas. He remains in federal custody.
According to the complaint, an undercover operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Beaumont, Texas, with assistance from the Houston, Texas Metro Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, identified an IP address linked to a computer at an Arlington, Texas, address that had used file-sharing software to download images and videos of child pornography.
Last week, ICE HSI agents visited that location and interviewed a witness at the residence who allowed agents to examine computers. A preliminary forensic examination conducted on one computer revealed the presence of child pornography.
After the discovery of child pornography, agents located Weirich at his place of employment. He stated that he was the only person responsible for the child pornography found by agents and that his interest in child pornography started out as a curiosity and then progressed into a compulsion he could not control. He also informed agents that he is currently a den leader for the Boy Scouts of America, as well as a karate instructor at his children’s karate class.
While the investigation is ongoing, at this time ICE HSI notes that it is unaware of any child molestation. A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offenses charged, and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge. A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
If convicted of this offense, however, Weirich faces a maximum statutory sentence of not less than five or more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of supervised release. The U.S. Attorney’s office has 30 days to present the matter to a grand jury for indictment.
This matter was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex C. Lewis and Chris R. Wolfe.
http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980802719#
(link not active, page not found on original server: archive of article shown here below)
Boy Scout Leader Arrested for Child Porn
by Dexter S.
Member since:
June 29, 2009
November 22, 2011 12:45 PM EST (Updated: November 22, 2011 01:30 PM EST)
comments: 4
Boy Scout leader Timothy J. Weirich was caught giving out child porn. When the 41-year-old father was caught with photos showing female children being forced to have sex with men, he confessed to his association with the Boy Scouts. This has led police digging deeper in the Arlington, Texas man's secret life.
With the help of file sharing software, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents caught the Boy Scout leader through the internet. ICE has a special division just for such purposes. The agency alleges to have downloaded the child porn photos directly from the suspects computer through file sharing. Anyone who has ever used file sharing programs like Limewire and others has seen the amount of pornographic images shared over the internet. Many of which claim to be images of underage children.
While a good portion of the porn images on file sharing services claim to be child porn, many are not and are just labeled that way to get attention. Some of the images actually contain viruses meant to infect the computers of pedophiles. No one knows how many are put there to tract people looking for child porn. There is no sign how authorities first discovered the Boy Scout leader other than just doing a search for this type of porn.
Agents traced the transactions to Weirich's ex-wife's house. When confronted with their investigation and allegations, the woman was surprised because she said Weirich had an issue with pornography in general. Her relationship with her ex-husband is not clear.
According to papers filed by ICE, Timothy J. Weirich said what started out as a curiosity turned into a "compulsion." This seems to be a familiar story from pedophiles and molesters. At this time, authorities have no evidence the Boy Scout leader molested any children but the investigation is still ongoing.
The fact that the Boy Scout leader was caught with child porn is disturbing. The organization has worked very hard to keep negative stories of their leaders' involvement in stories involving illicit sexual matters out of the news. No amount of background checks will expose child molesters and pedophiles because they are usually not criminals. Unfortunately, they can be anybody.
(link not active, page not found on original server: archive of article shown here below)
Boy Scout Leader Arrested for Child Porn
by Dexter S.
Member since:
June 29, 2009
November 22, 2011 12:45 PM EST (Updated: November 22, 2011 01:30 PM EST)
comments: 4
Boy Scout leader Timothy J. Weirich was caught giving out child porn. When the 41-year-old father was caught with photos showing female children being forced to have sex with men, he confessed to his association with the Boy Scouts. This has led police digging deeper in the Arlington, Texas man's secret life.
With the help of file sharing software, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents caught the Boy Scout leader through the internet. ICE has a special division just for such purposes. The agency alleges to have downloaded the child porn photos directly from the suspects computer through file sharing. Anyone who has ever used file sharing programs like Limewire and others has seen the amount of pornographic images shared over the internet. Many of which claim to be images of underage children.
While a good portion of the porn images on file sharing services claim to be child porn, many are not and are just labeled that way to get attention. Some of the images actually contain viruses meant to infect the computers of pedophiles. No one knows how many are put there to tract people looking for child porn. There is no sign how authorities first discovered the Boy Scout leader other than just doing a search for this type of porn.
Agents traced the transactions to Weirich's ex-wife's house. When confronted with their investigation and allegations, the woman was surprised because she said Weirich had an issue with pornography in general. Her relationship with her ex-husband is not clear.
According to papers filed by ICE, Timothy J. Weirich said what started out as a curiosity turned into a "compulsion." This seems to be a familiar story from pedophiles and molesters. At this time, authorities have no evidence the Boy Scout leader molested any children but the investigation is still ongoing.
The fact that the Boy Scout leader was caught with child porn is disturbing. The organization has worked very hard to keep negative stories of their leaders' involvement in stories involving illicit sexual matters out of the news. No amount of background checks will expose child molesters and pedophiles because they are usually not criminals. Unfortunately, they can be anybody.