Kid-porn case against ex-professor dismissed

PROVO — A former Utah Valley State College professor no longer faces child pornography charges.

Prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the case against Stephen Joseph Miraglia, 40, after they could not present sufficient evidence to charge him with felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Miraglia was arrested in December 2004 on 11 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after investigators allegedly found images of child pornography on his computer.

Defense attorney Mike Esplin said the state moved to dismiss the case because they had been unable to determine if the pornographic images had been downloaded or if they were pop-up type ads on his client's computer.

Fourth District Judge Claudia Laycock also ruled in September that a journal kept by Miraglia, which detailed his attraction to teenage boys, was a required part of sexual-addiction therapy. Thus, she said, it was legally privileged and could not be used in a trial.

Miraglia is still employed with UVSC but is not currently teaching, said UVSC spokesman Derek Hall.