Boy Scout Leader Arrested For Child Porn
ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - An Arlington scout leader has been arrested on federal child pornography charges.
41-year-old Timothy Weirich was arrested at the Arlington restaurant he works at after files were found on his home computer.
"Wow, that's kind of one I'm sad to hear about," says Tameka Hyman, who adds Weirich and his ex-wife seemed to fight a lot, and while the wife hinted there might be problems with pornography, the thought of children never entered Hyman's mind. "He kept denying it, I figured it was less child pornography I honestly thought it was…him maybe more interested in men versus women."
He was discovered by by an internet-crimes task force, who says Weirich used file-sharing software to send inappropriate videos to them in October.
No one was at home at Weirich's last known address in Arlington and neighbors don't know him. He told federal investigators he was an instructor at his child's karate class and that he was a den leader in the Boy Scouts. Scouts confirm his son is in a Tiger Cub program, but say the allegations against Weirich in no way involved his time in scouting.
On Monday, they released a statement to CBS 11 saying:
At this time it does not appear these allegations involve Scouting and are not representative of the principles and ideals of the Boy Scouts of America. Consistent with BSA policy, we remove or ban individuals from the program when we receive this type of allegation. Recognizing that youth protection requires sustained vigilance, the BSA continues to develop and enhance efforts to protect youth through clear policies, as well as training and education programs for scouts, parents and adult volunteers. We will cooperate with the authorities in their review of this matter, should they require our assistance.
In his arrest affidavit Weirich is quoted as saying his interest in child pornography began as a curiosity but it gradually became a compulsion he could not control. It further states his ex-wife told investigators Weirich had issues with pornography throughout the marriage.
"Obviously looking at children, if someone is looking at a child as being sexual in any way there's something wrong with that person," according to therapist Melody Brooke, who says that like drinking, pornography is so common nowadays it can be a casual attraction or addictive. "But adding in the element of children in child pornography is a whole different thing," she insists, adding, "It's not a normal behavior; something's happened in their psycho-social behavior development from an early age to set them up to see children that way."
Weirich is currently in federal custody. While there is no indication he actually harmed or molested children, investigators continue to probe his past.
