Elementary School Employee Gets 9 Years for Posting Child Porn
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Adam Arnold, 44, of Tallahassee, was sentenced to serve 108 months in federal prison yesterday for receiving and distributing child pornography. Arnold was working as an information technology technician at Buck Lake Elementary School when he was arrested on September 13, 2012.
The case began when an internet service provider alerted law enforcement to illicit images being sent to and from Arnold’s home computer. A search warrant revealed approximately 15,000 child pornography images hidden in Arnold’s personal computer. Arnold admitted that he was posting and receiving child pornography through a website based in Russia.
The Court reviewed 49 pages of victim impact statements filed on behalf of approximately two dozen children who were depicted in the seized images. The court commented that their injuries were substantial and long-lasting.
In addition to the nine years of incarceration, United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle imposed a life term of supervised release. While on supervised release, Arnold must register as a sex offender, must seek counseling as a sex offender, and must submit to searches of his computer and other property by his probation officer. Judge Hinkle also ordered that all of the computer equipment and electronic media seized be forfeited to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Marsh expressed her gratitude to Homeland Security Investigations, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tallahassee Police Department, whose joint work led to the successful investigation and prosecution. She added: “The safety and well-being of our children is a top priority for the Department of Justice. Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to protect the community and children, who are our most innocent victims.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael T. Simpson prosecuted this case.
UPDATED 10.11.2012 by Julie Montanaro
A former computer support technician at Buck Lake Elementary is now facing more than 100 felonies. His bond tops half a million dollars.
Adam Arnold was arrested in September after deputies say they found pictures of children engaged in sex acts on his home computer.
Arnold was initially charged with 34 counts of child porn possession and cruelty toward children.
Now after investigators have had a chance to examine his computers they have filed 100 more charges against Arnold.
Arrest papers say he had an account on a Russian web site and on line photo album called “Friends Kids.”
The judge ordered him to stay away from all children including his own. Bond is set at more than half a million dollars.
[UPDATE] Tallahassee, FL – September 13, 2012
A letter sent to parents from Buck Lake Elementary School Principal, Eydie Tricquet, regarding the arrest of Leon County School employee Adam Arnold:
Dear Parents,
We received information that one of our employees, Mr. Adam Arnold was arrested today. Below is a statement released by the Leon county School district concerning the arrest:
“LCS was notified today of the arrest of employee Adam Arnold,. Mr. Arnold was hired in July of 2012 as a Computer Support Tech. At the time of hire, Mr. Arnold’s background reflected no prior arrests. Based on the information received, Mr. Arnold has been terminated immediately from his position as a non-instructional Computer Support Tech at Buck Lake Elementary School.”
The incidents that lead to the arrest occurred off campus. I want to assure you at no time were our children in any danger.
Please remember our children’s safety is the number one priority.
Eydie Tricquet
Principal
Buck Lake Elementary
1600 Pedrick Road
Tallahassee, FL 32317
850-488-6133
[UPDATE] Tallahassee, FL – September 13, 2012- 4:40pm
LCS was notified today of the arrest of employee Adam Arnold. Mr. Arnold was hired in July of 2012 as a Computer Support Tech. At the time of hire, Mr. Arnold’s background reflected no prior arrests. Based on the information received, Mr. Arnold has been terminated immediately from his position as a non-instructional Computer Support Tech at Bucklake Elementary School.
Tallahassee, FL – September 13, 2012
On September 4, 2012, the Leon County Sheriff’s Internet Crimes against Children Unit received information from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children concerning a suspect who had recently transmitted a number of computer files depicting children engaged in sexual acts.
On September 13, 2012, the North Florida Internet Crimes against Children Task Force, including the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Tallahassee Police Department, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) executed a search warrant at the residence. During the search, task force members located numerous digital files containing child pornography being stored on computers at the residence. The homeowner, Adam Wade Arnold, was interviewed and subsequently arrested after acknowledging his involvement in this investigation.
Arnold was taken to the Leon County Jail.
