Robert Burke, the principal of Sageville Elementary School in Iowa, is being further investigated after being charged with receiving child pornography and admitting to placing a camera in the school’s restroom.

The investigation began in April when an FBI agent traced downloaded images of child pornography back to Burke’s (age 43) residence. This enabled law officials to gain a search warrant at his home. They found pictures of boys between the ages of 8 and 10 engaging in sexual activity. They also seized his computer for further investigations.

After the raid of his home, Burke addmited in an interview that he had placed a camera in the school’s boys’ restroom (unrelated to the child pornography he has been downloading since January).

“He stated the camera had produced video images of students who were using the bathroom,” the complaint said, adding Burke denied ever having touched children in a sexual manner.

Burke was expected to make his initial court appearance Friday in U.S. District Court in Cedar. The charge he’s facing carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.

Read more @ MSNBC.com

The discovery occurred when DesGravise found an air freshener “propped up on the rail in the handicapped stall.” DesGravise said, “I just knew it didn’t belong,” DesGravise said. If the air freshener was supposed to be there, DesGravise hadn’t noticed it before. Not to mention the fact that if someone was in the stall when the freshener activated, they’d be hit with aerosol.

DesGravise investigated the container and found the camera. When police were alerted, quick detective work led to the arrest of  nearby a Mayfield Heights Fire Captain Daniel Serge. Serge is a member of the YMCA.

With the goal of becoming a police officer, DesGravise, who has a degree in criminal justice took the part-time job at the “Y” to earn money and access the gym equipment. He wants to attend the police academy, but said he needed to get in-shape first.

The alleged perpetrator, a 24-year veteran of the Mayfield Heights Fire Department, is in custody. Police tracked down 51-year-old Daniel Serge, searched his home, and arrested him. According to police, DesGravise  found the camera 20-minutes after it was placed in the stall.

The police search of Serge’s home launched a second investigation based on their discovery of hidden cameras in Serge’s bathrooms and 500 hours of video footage depicting two boys. video tape dozens of recordings.  The police report that the content on those tapes depicted two teen boys, but made no other statement.

Serge has been charged with “pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor,” although the evidence recovered from his home may lead to further investigations. Serge, twice-convicted for drunk driving, is now in violation of his probation resulting from the felony pandering charge.

MSI’s Detectives are trained in the detection and removal of  surveillance equipment. If you suspect that someone may be illegally recording you, do not hesitate to contact us for help.

Beware of holiday scams, especially if you are paying for your purchase with a credit or debit card.

CHECK YOUR RECEIPTS BEFORE LEAVING THE CASHIER’S STATION!

Especially during this  very busy and stressful time before the holidays!

It happened at large discount store chain a month ago.  Someone made a purchase, over $150, and glanced at his  receipt as the cashier was handing over the bags.  He saw a cash-back of $40.   When he told the cashier that he didn’t  request a cash back she said that he would have to take the $40 because she couldn’t delete it.  I told her to call a supervisor.  Supervisor came and said “You have  to take it.”  Customer said NO!  Taking the $40 would be a cash advance against my Discover & he wasn’t paying interest on a cash advance!!!!!  If they couldn’t delete it then they would have to delete the whole order.  So the supervisor had the cashier delete the whole order & re-scan everything!  The second time I looked at the electronic pad before I signed & a cash-back of $20 popped up.  At that point I told the cashier & she deleted it. The total came out right. The cashier agreed that the electronic pad must be defective. Obviously the cashier knew the electronic pad was defective because she NEVER offered me the $40 at the beginning.  Can you imagine how many people went through before me & at the end of her shift how much money she pocketed? Just to alert everyone.

Another person went to a Milford, DE store  last week.  She had her items rung up by the cashier.  The cashier hurried along and didn’t give her a receipt.  She asked the cashier for a receipt and the cashier was annoyed and gave it to her.  She didn’t look at her receipt until later that night.  The receipt showed that she asked $20 cash back although she did not.  The store was called and they investigated but they could not see the cashier pocket the money on the video tape.  She then called her niece who works for the bank and her niece told her that this is a new scam going on. The cashier will key in that you asked for cash back and then hand it to her friend who is the next person in line.   Please check your receipts right away when using credit or debit cards!

A husband and wife were in Wal-Mart North Salisbury and paying with credit card when the husband went to sign the credit card signer he just happen to notice there was a $20 cash back added. He told the cashier that he did not ask nor want cash back and she said this machine has been messing up and she canceled it.

I wonder how many people have been, or will be, “stung” by this one?