New Review In U-M Child Porn Case Underway
ANN ARBOR (WWJ/AP) - A new external investigation is under way into a six-month delay in reporting suspected child pornography to police after it was found on a computer flash drive in a locked University of Michigan hospital lounge.
AnnArbor.com reported Friday that the school has selected the law firm Latham & Watkins to lead the review. They have agreed that the cost of the review will not exceed $395,000.
Latham & Watkins will investigate circumstances leading to the reporting lapse that allowed 37-year-old Stephen Jenson to work with children for an additional six months after a medical resident discovered a thumb drive containing documents containing his name and child pornography in the Pediatric Emergency Department.
An internal investigation into the delay determined a hospital attorney was aware of the discovery in May -- but decided after a month that there wasn't enough evidence to tell police.
Security at the university-affiliated hospital didn't report the case to university police until Nov. 21. After police were notified, they searched Jenson's home and removed his computer. He was arrested days later and charged by Washtenaw County prosecutors with four counts of possessing child sexually abusive material.
Then, in early February, the federal government charged Jenson with receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Police say they found 97 images and four videos of suspected child porn on Jenson's electronic devices. Investigators believe the alleged illegal conduct occurred between January 2011 and Dec. 2, 2011.
If convicted in the federal case, Jenson faces a minimum of five years in prison.
TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
