Child porn allegedly downloaded at library

SNOHOMISH — A Snohomish man has been arrested for investigation of downloading child pornography from a city library computer onto a cellphone.

The suspect, 55, denied having pornography stored in his phone when he was confronted by police April 20, according to court papers. However, he told police he was viewing pornography at the library and the images included pictures of naked children.

He told an officer that he was on a website he believed would have nude photographs that would be artistic in nature.

Snohomish police took his phone and a transfer cord as evidence.

A library patron called 911 after spotting a man viewing suspected child pornography, court papers said. The caller provided a detailed description of the man.

The witness was “so disturbed by his observations” that he followed the man when he left the library, Snohomish police wrote in an affidavit to establish probable cause for an arrest.

The suspect is being held on $100,000 bail. No charges have been filed.

“The suspect was in the Snohomish library using one of their computer terminals to access the Internet,” Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Shari Ireton said. “The suspect attached his phone, using a USB cable, (to) the terminal and was able to pull images from the Internet onto his phone.”

A detective reportedly found on the phone more than 50 photographs depicting children as young as 2 being sexually exploited.

More than two dozen photographs were determined to have been loaded onto the phone at the time the man was at the library, according to the affidavit.

“The library has been completely cooperative and doing everything they can to assist with our investigation,” Ireton said. “They immediately removed the terminal from the public area of the library and are holding it until the detective gets a search warrant to inspect it further.”

All computers in the Sno-Isle Libraries system have Internet filters. The Snohomish Public Library is part of the 21-branch system that serves more than 750,000 people and includes a collection of 1.4 million items.

Library users 17 and older can choose an option to have unfiltered Internet access. The exception is to computers that are in the children’s sections where all computers have filtered access.

Internet access at public libraries is challenging for libraries, Sno-Isle spokesman Ken Harvey said.

“We work hard to provide a delicate balance to providing access to constitutionally protected forms of information to all those who we serve but we’re also absolutely working to ensure we are not providing access to illegal materials or illegal activity,” Harvey said.

Additionally, if library staff see a customer engaging in illegal activity, including accessing child pornography, they call 911.

If a staff member suspects someone is viewing illegal material, that worker will tell the customer to stop or police will be notified.

“One thing we always would like to remind the community of is if they see something in or around the library to always let staff know,” Harvey said. “So if they see something, say something.”

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.