Allegedly Had Images On His University-Owned Computer

A professor in the University of North Dakota aviation program has been arrested and charged with eight counts of possessing child pornography. Each count could carry a five-year prison term and $10,000 fine.

The Grand Forks Herald reports that Eric Hewitt Basile appeared in Grand Forks District Court in a video feed from the Grand Forks Correctional Facility. His arrest came after administration officials at the university requested that his computer be searched. The 37-year-old professor was suspected of using his work computer to arrange relationships with students deemed inappropriate by the university.

An examination of his computer by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations led to the discovery of the child pornography. A search warrant was issued, and several digital devices were confiscated from Basile's home.

The paper reports that court records indicate that Basile admitted to having pornographic images and videos depicting children that he had collected from a website and stored in a Dropbox account. He said he deleted the folder after being placed on administrative leave. The eight images recovered depicted male and female children between the ages of one and three being sexually assaulted by adult males, according to an affidavit.

Basile has been at the university since 2014, and taught a variety of topics, including basic attitude instrument flying, IFR procedures and regulations, GA operations and management and aviation safety.

The paper reports he is the third UND professor to face child pornography charges this year

(UND Police mugshot)

FMI: https://und.edu/public-safety/police.cfm