A former resident of MU’s Cramer Hall was charged with possession of child pornography by Boone County prosecutors Friday.
Samuel Rassenfoss, 18, became the subject of a police investigation in August after an online community investigation that lasted a day and a half and was conducted over a public message board. The investigation began with a discovery by fellow Cramer Hall resident Rob Deleeuw.
Deleeuw, 18, told the Missourian that night that he found child pornography files on the suspect’s iTunes library on the Residential Life Network to which all the computers connected to MU campus Internet are attached. The files were easily viewed through a program that allows users to “stream,” or listen, to music from other users’ iTunes libraries.
Soon, a picture of the student’s iTunes library appeared on a message board and an informal investigation began, starting with posts containing links to Rassenfoss Facebook and MySpace profiles.
After that, posts began to appear on the message board detailing everything from the student’s involvement in children’s organizations to his parents’ home address. The investigation ended with a call to police.
Boone County Assistant Prosecutor Nicole Gorovsky filed the charges in response to a statement of probable cause made by MU police.
Promoting child pornography, or possessing it with the intent of promoting or distributing it, is a felony in Missouri. If the child depicted in the material is younger than 14, the person possessing the pornography faces a minimum of five, and a maximum of 15, years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
If the child depicted is between 14 and 18, jail time ranges from one year in the county jail to seven years in prison.
The MU News Bureau would not answer questions about Rassenfoss’ enrollment status Monday because his records were blocked.
Although MU officials say they cannot comment on disciplinary action taken against any student, MU judicial coordinator Donell Young said charges like those faced by Rassenfoss would also be violations of the MU code of conduct.
In cases in which a student is charged with possession of child pornography, Young said, “I would think that, if the information was proven, it would be a suspension or expulsion case.”
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