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Computer Thumb Drives Could Yield New Evidence Against Child Porn Suspect: DHS

Feds get permission to search for illicit images on thumb drives found after suspect's arrest

A search warrant application filed Tuesday in federal court confirms that federal agents may find more evidence against David Weaks, a City Heights grade school teacher accused of possessing and distributing explicit child pornography.

Weaks was arrested April 19 and has been held in federal jail while awaiting his trial.

The evidence against him was found on his computer at his Clairemont home. Investigators also searched two computers in Weak’s classroom at Rosa Parks Elementary but did not find more child porn.

Six days after his arrest, a substitute teacher found four thumb drives on a shelf near Weak’s workstation. According to the application for the search warrant, that teacher took the thumb drives to her principal, who gave them to school police, who gave them in turn to federal investigators.

In their request for a warrant to inspect the contents of those thumb drives, federal agents told Federal Magistrate Nita Storms that child porn collectors often hide multiple copies of their collection in different places.

“Even if the collector feels threatened by exposure to law enforcement, he will usually seek to preserve his collection, by hiding it better… rather than by destroying it,” wrote Kayade Ereme, Special Agent with the Department of Homeland Security.

On Tuesday, Magistrate Stormes approved the request for the warrant to inspect the thumb drives.

It’s unknown if investigators have already inspected the thumb drives, but if they do find illicit images, that evidence can be used against Weaks, who pleaded not guilty to the felony charge.

Weaks’ next court appearance is scheduled for July 30.

His trial is scheduled for the following day, but Weaks’ attorney has indicated he’ll need more time to prepare a defense and will ask for a later trial date.

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