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

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

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.