Judge Accused Of Keeping Kid Porn In Court Computer
An affidavit alleges Kline's Santa Ana office machine stored images of boys and Web links.
By Greg Hardesty
Originally published in The Orange County Register, February 9, 2002
Judge Ronald C. Kline's courthouse computer contained images of nude minor boys and links to Web sites that feature child pornography, according to documents filed in federal court in Santa Ana on Friday.
Kline used the computer in his private chambers "to facilitate his possession of child pornography and to further his interest in minor males," according to an affidavit filed in support of a search warrant executed Friday.
The Dell computer in Kline's chambers in the Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana was connected to the computer on the bench in his courtroom, according to court documents.
"One image on Kline's court computer depicts four minor males, at least one prepubescent, all displaying their genitals," a U.S. Customs agent wrote in the affidavit.
Kline's attorney, Paul S. Meyer, could not be reached late Friday.
Kline, who handled civil cases, was indicted in November after authorities found more than 100 images of nude boys on his home computer.
He has pleaded not guilty. Kline also faces state molestation charges.
Authorities said in November there was evidence Kline had e-mailed erotic images of boys and diary entries of his desire for boys from work to his home computer.
The new search warrant expands on that allegation.
Federal authorities, who seized Kline's office computer in December, are now examining disk space on a network server at the courthouse that was reserved for Kline.
Kline is running for re-election in the March 5 primaries. Several write-in candidates are challenging him.
Kline remains free on home detention, with electronic monitoring, and is receiving his full salary of $136,244 but is not working.
