On February 22nd, 2016, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint charging David Prashker with Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography, and Attempting to Destroy Evidence.
The charges stem from an investigation conducted by members of the Contra Costa Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The local ICAC unit consists of detectives from the Martinez, Walnut Creek, Moraga, Concord, Pleasant Hill and San Ramon police departments; along with investigators from the Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department, and the District Attorney’s Office.
On February 18th, 2016, ICAC investigators served a search warrant in the 3600 block of Bickerstaff Rd in Lafayette. As officers were attempting to contact Mr. Prashker at his residence, he fled to the back of the house and threw a laptop computer from his second floor bedroom into the backyard. Forensic examiners recovered the laptop, and an initial analysis revealed its hard drive contained evidence of child pornography.
Mr. Prashker was arrested and booked at the Martinez Detention Facility. His bail was initially set at $205,000. Mr. Prashker will make his first court appearance on February 23rd, 2016 at 8:30 am before the Honorable Cheryl Mills in Martinez. Mr. Prashker faces a maximum penalty of 44 months in prison, and fines, if convicted.
Mr. Prashker, a 60 year-old resident of Lafayette, has been a teacher and school administrator for 30 years, having held positions in Toronto, Canada; London, England; and Miami, Florida. Most recently, Mr. Prashker has been employed as a substitute teacher at two private schools in central Contra Costa County. The schools have been notified; there is no evidence at this point that Mr. Prashker engaged in any crimes involving the students of either school.
5 comments
Sources say he was a devout Catholic and part-time clergyman. Who knew?!
So many of those accused of being involved with “child pornography” seem to be contributing citizens: educators, youth volunteers, entertainers, doctors, policemen, lawyers, executives; even religious or government leaders. Given these apparently stable and productive people, should we not perhaps ask ourselves if what they are accused of is really evil and harmful enough to result in the destruction of their otherwise exemplary lives?
Scientific studies based on credible empirical evidence do not support the mass hysteria and moral panic that currently surrounds so-called “child pornography.” According to several objective research reports, some of which are discussed in the essay linked below, the viewing of this material is most often harmless and does not always lead to behaviors which are currently considered to be criminal. Many – perhaps most – of those charged with possessing and viewing “child pornography” have never been involved with a child. Also, the conjecture that all “pornography” is taken without consent is not borne out by empirical facts, and the delusion that children are hurt every time their image is viewed simply is not rational – the child most likely never knows about such viewings. For an essay discussing this subject published in a reputable scientific journal, see http://www.shfri.net/effects/effects.cgi
For a free downloadable 94 page book on these issues which includes voluntary anonymous testimony from now grown former child “actors,” see http://www.shfri.net/shfp/beyond/beyond.html
Are you defending pedophiles? You’re as sick as he is. Who gives a **** what type of life they’re leading. It all goes down the drain with this sick crap. Would you want him around your kids? Or maybe you’re a pedophile yourself. Download this. ROT IN HELL!
What exactly tips off the police to begin a criminal complaint charge on matters like these? Was the guy caught in the act of distributing the material somewhere? Was his computer being monitored previously by law enforcement while he browsed this stuff?
Carrie, law enforcement uses software to catch these guys. That’s what the ICAC Task Force does. If these guys are downloading and file sharing, the software will catch it. Thank God.
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