Child porn on Brite Divinity professor’s computer was discovered by TCU IT staff, feds say
A professor of theology at the Brite Divinity School on TCU’s campus who was arrested last week has been charged in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth with possession of child pornography.
The federal investigation of Charles Bellinger, 62, began after TCU’s information technology staff reported they had detected pornographic images with file names that included “infant” and “toddler,” on Bellinger’s work computer, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.
Bellinger stored pornographic images of children on his work computer, prosecutors said. On a hard drive and an SD card removed from Bellinger’s office, investigators found sexually explicit images of prepubescent minors, prosecutors said.
At a preliminary hearing on Oct. 10, a law enforcement officer testified that encrypted devices from a locked safe in Bellinger’s office also were seized, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Forensic investigation of those devices is incomplete.
Bellinger retained defense attorney Cody Cofer.
“Unfortunately, with the nature of these allegations, law enforcement and much of the public assume guilt,” Cofer wrote to a reporter who requested a response to the allegation. “However, it seemed the Fort Worth Police Officer that testified at the preliminary hearing today had no first-hand knowledge of any direct evidence of guilt. Mr. Bellinger’s legal team is already conducting a comprehensive investigation to clear the path for the truth to be presented in his defense.”
Bellinger was, at the end of a detention hearing, ordered released from custody on bond.
Bellinger, whom Brite Divinity School fired, was arrested on Oct. 2.
The divinity school and TCU are separate institutions but share some services, including IT matters.
Fort Worth police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit detectives, TCU police officers and U.S. Secret Service special agents served a search warrant at Bellinger’s house in Arlington and at his office on the TCU campus.
The Rev. Stephen Cady, Brite Divinity School’s president, wrote in a Oct. 3 statement that the alleged behavior is repugnant.
“When Brite administration was made aware of this situation, we immediately initiated our own investigation, cooperated with law enforcement, shut down his access to school technology, personnel, and facilities, and placed him on immediate administrative leave before terminating his employment shortly thereafter,” Cady wrote. “He did not teach a single class after we learned of the concern.”
This story was originally published October 10, 2024 at 1:44 PM.
