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Detectives are investigating the possibility that local children were among those depicted in pornographic images discovered in a Laughlin elementary schoolteacher's home Wednesday.
Byron D. Covert, 53, a fifth-grade teacher at Bennett Elementary, is the seventh Clark County School District employee to be arrested on allegations of sexual misconduct since February.
Covert was being held on 15 felony counts of possession of child pornography at the Laughlin holding facility Wednesday night. Those charges could multiply into the hundreds when computer forensic specialists complete their examination of Covert's three computers, said Las Vegas police Lt. Tom Smitley.
Police entered Covert's home on Paloma Avenue in Laughlin after receiving a tip on Tuesday that the teacher was in possession of child pornography, Smitley said.
The tipster went so far as to provide police with print-outs of images taken from Covert's hard drive, he said.
Detectives interviewed the teacher before obtaining the warrant.
In addition to the computer files, detectives recovered a box of shredded print-outs, he said.
"What happened is he knew we were on the way so he started to shred the evidence," he said.
Detectives seized two computers in his home and a third computer at his school office, Smitley said.
It is unknown yet whether there were any images on the school computer.
Sgt. Tom Keller, with the Las Vegas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, said he believes some of the pictures found in Covert's possession might have be locally produced.
After enough child pornography investigations, detectives tend to come across many of the same pictures, Keller said. They often recognize the children and can identify the country where the pictures were taken, he said.
"Child porn is a valuable commodity to those who collect it, so they trade with other collectors," he said.
But the images found in Covert's possession "were not the normal, mass-produced stuff."
Police said that among the images they discovered were child bondage scenes.
The uniqueness of Covert's collection has investigators exploring whether he was involved in a local operation using local children, Keller said.
Clark County School District spokeswoman Mary Stanley-Larsen said Covert has been placed on administrative leave and could be terminated if formal charges are filed.
Covert has been employed with the district since 1992, she said.
With seven district employees arrested in four months for sexual misconduct, some of whom are alleged to have had sex with their students, Stanley-Larsen said the district is attempting to increase awareness of the issue and have people be on the lookout for anything unusual.
"As a result of what's happening, we realize we want
to take some stronger action," she said.
Right there in Las Vegas? That paragon of virtue and all things bright and beautiful? {/sarcasm}
Well, it seems the Vegas cops are pretty diligent as long as it isn't a cop getting a teenage boy drunk and repeatedly seducing him.
I wonder what we'll learn about this guy's past criminal record as this unfolds.
Locally, a teacher at a private school was busted for kiddie porn he had on his school computer.
A technician working on the machine alerted administrators.
The teacher was also taking photo's of boys, (unknowingly), in the locker room.
Turns out the teacher was a "registered" sex offender in a neighboring state.
I think they should be shot, imho.
The right should do to government teachers what the left has done so successfully to the clergy: Play up every incidence of molestation. Put in the back of every parent's mind the notion that their kid's government teacher might be a sexual predator.
Laughlin teacher arrested on child porn allegations
Wrong link or title...sorry:
Beith confesses to pair of charges (Principal kidnaps 11-year-old)
Clinton Hits Bush Education Plans As Teachers Cheer
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
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