Ex-Ewu Professor Hears Child Porn Charges Boggs Can Remain Free Until Trial; Limits On Child Contact
A federal magistrate says a former college professor cannot go near children without being supervised until he stands trial on computer pornography charges.
Russell C. Boggs, 43, of Cheney, can remain out of jail without bond, U.S. Magistrate Cynthia Imbrogno ruled Tuesday.
Boggs, a former geology professor at Eastern Washington University, was indicted last week on 122 counts of using a state-owned computer to down-load pornographic pictures of children.
A 123rd count in a federal indictment accuses Boggs of possessing child pornography.
Boggs should stand trial within two months in U.S. District Court in one of the first computer-porn prosecutions of its kind in the United States.
He waived reading of the indictment and pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment Tuesday before Imbrogno.
Boggs also asked for a court-appointed defense attorney, even though he has $60,000 in a state retirement fund.
Assistant Federal Defender Steve Hormel told the court Boggs would have to pay taxes and a 10 percent penalty if he cashes his retirement to hire an attorney.
Imbrogno said she would give Boggs an attorney at taxpayers’ expense, but said she may later require him to share a portion of the costs.
She reviewed Boggs’ financial statement, which shows he also has worked for Crowd Management Services, a company that provides security at entertainment events. His wife owns a jewelry business and has worked for a home-health care provider.
The couple also has sold jewelry at a booth in the Spokane Transit Authority Plaza in downtown Spokane, Hormel told the court.
The judge said it would not be a violation of Boggs’ release conditions if he has contact with children at the jewelry sales booth.
Imbrogno also said Boggs could leave Eastern Washington to attend a week-long mineralogy and gem stone show next week in Tucson, Ariz.
Boggs was suspended by EWU in July and resigned his position in August.
Boggs and his attorney had no comment as they left the brief court hearing.
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