Investigators uncovered child pornography in the Penn office of Wharton professor emeritus Scott Ward yesterday, piling fresh charges on top of allegations that he brought child pornography into the country.
University Spokeswoman Lori Doyle confirmed that investigators found a CD containing more than 80 still images of sexual acts between a man believed to be Ward and a teenage boy.
The University has released a statement acknowledging that it allowed investigators to search Ward's office after receiving a warrant. According to Penn Directories, Ward's office is located in room 768 of Jon M. Huntsman Hall, at 3730 Walnut St.
Penn President Amy Gutmann said last week that Ward, who has a long history of brushes with the law, will no longer teach at the University.
This latest charge in Pennsylvania accompanies one that Ward received in Virginia for importing child pornography Aug. 27, after officials detained him at Washington Dulles International airport and found that he possessed video depicting him engaging in sexual acts with teenage boys. Agents said they found additional video showing sexual acts involving children as young as 8 years old.
Ward faces a hearing today in Alexandria, Va., to determine whether he will be released on bail.
One criminal defense expert, however, said he doubts that Ward will leave custody.
"My gut reaction: He's toast," said Philadelphia criminal-defense attorney Patrick Artur, whose firm has dealt with child-pornography cases.
Artur predicted that even if Ward is granted bail, "it'll be so outrageous, he won't be able to make it."
"The icing on his particular cake is that . he has his images of his involvement," he added. "It's the kind of case where you just have to cut your losses and cut a deal."
Today's hearing was originally scheduled for last Friday, but U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Jones postponed it until 2 p.m. today, requesting more information on Ward's potential living conditions.
Ward's attorney Meghan Skelton said she will be able to provide the judge with this information today, but she declined comment on any expected outcomes.
She added that on Friday, "the judge was not prepared to rule and wanted additional time to think about it."
Jones did mention possible conditions for bail on Friday, including home detention, third-party custodianship and offering property as security.
Philadelphia criminal-defense attorney William Brennan, whose firm handles charges related to child pornography said that some of Ward's criminal record may come into play.
Ward faced child sex charges in the '90s but was not convicted.
A jury acquitted him of allegedly paying a teenage boy for sex dozens of times in 1995.
He was later charged with soliciting sex from a state trooper posing as a 15-year-old boy. In 1999, he entered an "Alford plea" acknowledging that there was enough evidence to convict him on this charge but not admitting guilt. He was fined $2,500 and given five years of probation.
But it was Ward's travel record rather than his criminal record that triggered the search at Virginia's Dulles International airport - he visited Thailand frequently and taught there. According to police reports, the country is a popular destination for travellers seeking sex with minors.
Artur said that this case differs from most child pornography charges because the arrest was based on Ward's travel record.
Arrests usually stem from recent technology that locates child pornography, Artur said. He said that while travel history is often used for drug-related arrests, he has not heard of its use in an arrest for child-pornography possession.
Brennan and Artur's firms both deal with charges of possession of child pornography, among other criminal charges.
But Brennan emphasized that Ward is innocent until proven guilty.
"It's important for people to remember that this man is presumed innocent," he said. "People should not rush to judgement in this or any other criminal case."
