Child Porn Found on Police Computer During Routine Check
By Erika Reif
Originally published by the Pilot Online, June 16, 2001
HAMPTON — The child pornography allegedly downloaded onto a Hampton police officer's work and home computers was discovered nearly a month ago during a routine maintenance and security check on the police division's computer network, a search warrant affidavit discloses.
The discovery has led to three child pornography-related charges filed against a 27-year veteran of the force.
Lt. Norman D. Varner, 50, is accused of downloading from the Internet and onto his computers explicit photographs of underage females, some engaged in sexual activity, the search warrant said.
Varner was charged Wednesday with use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children, and possession of with intent to distribute sexually explicit items involving children, both felonies; and possession of child pornography, a Class 1 misdemeanor, Hampton police spokesperson Cpl. Jimmie Wideman said.
A network systems administrator for the city discovered pornographic files around May 17 on a large computer, known as a server. They were found on the computer's H drive in storage space accessible only to the individual assigned to it — in this case, Varner, the warrant said.
The administrator copied the files onto a CD-ROM and passed them to a police division major, who forwarded them to a lieutenant for investigation. On May 29, the lieutenant contacted Virginia State Police special agent R.E. Jones for assistance.
State police then covertly obtained a "mirror image" of the computer's hard drive, from which a recovery unit extracted more files and possibly pictures, the warrant said.
Hampton called in state police to lead the investigation because state police "are very familiar with that type of investigation … and they're experts in any crimes involving computers," spokesman Wideman said. Hampton police are assisting.
Investigators sought help from a pediatric and adolescent specialist at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk, who examined the photographs and "was able to identify some of the persons as being under the age of eighteen," the warrant said.
On Wednesday, Jones interviewed Varner, who said that he had downloaded similar pictures and images on his home computer in Poquoson over the past two or three months, the warrant said.
Police then searched Varner's home in the 1200 block of Poquoson Ave. and confiscated a computer and 35 disks, Wideman said.
Varner was placed on administrative leave and relieved of his duties at noon Wednesday, Wideman said. He is scheduled to appear in Hampton General District Court on June 28, a clerk said.
If convicted, Varner could face one to 10 years in prison for each of the two felonies, up to 12 months in prison for the misdemeanor, and a fine of up to $2,500 on each charge, Wideman said.
Varner worked out of the division's main office in downtown Hampton. At least some of the offenses occurred on company time, Wideman said.
Varner started as a patrolman. He worked his way up to a lieutenant in charge of operations, a promotion he earned about three months ago. Some of his duties included purchasing, outfitting and distributing police vehicles.
Wideman said he had not heard of any previous instances of a Hampton police officer facing child pornography-related charges.
In the warrant, Jones says that computers have become one of the preferred methods for trafficking in, trading or collecting child pornography. He says that computers, particularly at home, offer anonymity and a sense of privacy for materials considered to be scarce and expensive, as well as difficult and dangerous to obtain.
