University Relations employee Ron Brown is missing after police issued an arrest warrant for him Thursday.
Brown is facing charges stemming from the alleged discovery of child pornography on his office computer.
An East Baton Rouge Parish warrant said University Relations Executive Director Gene Sands requested LSU Computing Services take a look at Brown’s computer, which was locked in Brown’s office at the time.
The warrant said Sands expressed concern to Computing Services that Brown often came to the office early in the morning and stayed late in the afternoon.
Andrew Waggenspack, manager of contract and field support for Computing Services, examined Brown’s computer and found files which may have been pornography were recently saved to a zip disk.
However, the files were not on Brown’s computer. According to the warrant, Waggenspack advised Sands to remove the computer from Brown’s office. The computer was removed for further examination, and Sands produced eight University-owned zip disks for examination.
“It was just a routine check,” Sands said. “I was very surprised. He was a good worker and a good writer.”
Computing Services intern Hunter Ely began looking for files that could be remnants of child pornography, according to the warrant. Ely discovered two images of child pornography and other encrypted image and video files that could be illegal.
The warrant also said Ely and an unidentified officer served a search warrant to Brown at his house early June 24. After seizing two computers and other electronic media from Brown’s home, Brown disappeared.
Brown was last heard from by his wife, whom he called and told she could find their Toyota mini-van in a Natchez, Miss., mall parking lot, the warrant said.
Lt. Jody Waldrop of the Natchez Police Department said LSUPD contacted him Thursday and asked him to help locate Brown.
“We don’t have any new information.” Waldrop said. “I don’t know where he is.”
Sands said Brown, who graduated in journalism from LSU in 1994 and joined the University Relations department in 1995, has not been convicted of anything yet. But Sands said the University plans to terminate Brown’s employment.
“We are talking with the folks over at human resources about termination,” Sandis said. “We want to ensure due process.”
The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s office also issued a warrant June 23 for Brown’s arrest on a charge of indecent behavior with a juvenile.
Detective Robert Ardoin said Brown has been under investigation for some time. Ardoin said before Brown could be apprehended on Tuesday, he disappeared.
Ardoin also said the pre-teen girl who accused Brown is providing testimony.
“We just got word of it and we haven’t completed the investigation,” Ardoin said. “We have the child’s testimony and other evidence.