SoUncool
June 24th, 2008, 12:21 PM
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16690341/detail.html
http://i25.tinypic.com/whd0nc.jpg
TACOMA - A man who once cared for foster children was charged with child rape Monday after a Costco worker saw what appeared to be child pornography on film to be developed at the store
Tacoma police said several weeks ago, 69-year-old Eugene Pritchett took some film to Costco to be developed.
Detectives said a Costco employee saw what was thought to be child pornography on the film roll and called police.
"A local film developer contacted us to tell us they were contracted to develop some 35 millimeter prints that depicted a young boy in a sexually explicit manner," said Tacoma police Detective Brad Graham.
Police said that at first, they weren't sure who the boys on the roll of film were, but Child Protective Services was able to identify them as foster children who had once been in the care of Pritchett.
For several years, Pritchett was licensed to provide respite care for foster children, which meant he had temporary custody of children, primarily boys, who were placed in foster care by Child Protective Services, investigators said.
According to a probable cause affidavit, in 2004, a report was that alleged that Pritchett was having inappropriate contact with boys in his care. The claim was ruled unfounded.
Despite that finding, Pritchett's license to provide foster care was suspended and then later revoked.
Tacoma police said the boy in the pictures found by Costco was a child Pritchett had cared for and stayed in touch with even after he lost his license.
Police said they believe there are more victims.
Pritchett pleaded not guilty to four counts of child rape and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
He was released on bail.
http://i25.tinypic.com/whd0nc.jpg
TACOMA - A man who once cared for foster children was charged with child rape Monday after a Costco worker saw what appeared to be child pornography on film to be developed at the store
Tacoma police said several weeks ago, 69-year-old Eugene Pritchett took some film to Costco to be developed.
Detectives said a Costco employee saw what was thought to be child pornography on the film roll and called police.
"A local film developer contacted us to tell us they were contracted to develop some 35 millimeter prints that depicted a young boy in a sexually explicit manner," said Tacoma police Detective Brad Graham.
Police said that at first, they weren't sure who the boys on the roll of film were, but Child Protective Services was able to identify them as foster children who had once been in the care of Pritchett.
For several years, Pritchett was licensed to provide respite care for foster children, which meant he had temporary custody of children, primarily boys, who were placed in foster care by Child Protective Services, investigators said.
According to a probable cause affidavit, in 2004, a report was that alleged that Pritchett was having inappropriate contact with boys in his care. The claim was ruled unfounded.
Despite that finding, Pritchett's license to provide foster care was suspended and then later revoked.
Tacoma police said the boy in the pictures found by Costco was a child Pritchett had cared for and stayed in touch with even after he lost his license.
Police said they believe there are more victims.
Pritchett pleaded not guilty to four counts of child rape and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
He was released on bail.