Charles Kilby Bellinger, a 62-year-old theology professor and librarian at Texas Christian University’s (TCU) Brite Divinity School, has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography.
The arrest followed an investigation initiated by TCU’s IT department, who discovered pornographic images with disturbing file names on Dr. Bellinger’s work computer. A subsequent search of his office revealed a hard drive and SD card containing numerous sexually explicit images of pre-pubescent children.
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Law enforcement officials also seized several encrypted devices from a locked safe in Dr. Bellinger’s office. Forensic analysis of these devices is currently underway.
Dr. Bellinger was arrested on October 4th and is currently facing federal charges. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
It is important to remember that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and Dr. Bellinger is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, the Fort Worth Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, and the TCU Campus Police.
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