State worker reportedly left porn on computer

OLYMPIA – A state technology worker has been placed on leave after auditors reported he was viewing pornography on a government computer.

Department of Social and Health Services officials are conducting their own internal review of the employee’s actions, but the agency won’t act until the State Patrol finishes investigating potential child pornography on the computer.

The unidentified information technology worker, who has been with the agency since 1994, was placed on paid administrative leave in May and no longer has access to state computers, said DSHS spokesman Steve Williams.

The department has a zero-tolerance policy for pornography, Williams said: “If we find it, you’re fired.”

The state auditor’s probe that turned up evidence of pornography began several months ago, after an anonymous whistle-blower reported inappropriate use of DSHS computers.

Audit investigators said the worker acknowledged using the computer for some personal tasks, but claimed his activity was limited to storing music, communicating with his wife and storing photos of his child.

However, a review of the worker’s laptop revealed numerous pornographic pictures and visits to an adult-oriented retail Web site, the auditor’s report stated.

The evidence was very clear, state Auditor Brian Sonntag said.

“In this case, there was nothing accidental or inadvertent,” he said. “We’ve got hundreds of different images and Web pages.”

The State Patrol investigation centers on a possible pornographic photo of an underage girl, officials said.

The worker also installed a large number of software programs not related to work, visited gambling Web sites, used a chat program and maintained Web sites for himself and another person, the auditor’s report said.