BYU assistant professor resigns after arrest

PROVO — A Brigham Young University assistant professor has resigned after being arrested Thursday night for investigation into allegations that he taped and watched pornographic videos of a 14-year-old girl on his computer.

The 63-year-old man is being investigated for sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony, and voyeurism, a class A misdemeanor, after Provo police found a video clip of a girl undressing on a laptop computer belonging to BYU.

The Deseret Morning News does not name arrested persons until charges are filed.

Acting on a tip, Provo police approached the man at his home and took him to the police station where it was determined the information he provided was sufficient to warrant his arrest, said Provo Police Capt. Rick Healey.

Police confiscated the computer and are continuing to search for other videos they believe are on the computer's hard drive, Healey said.

Investigators believe the videos were created using a hidden camera in either a bedroom or a bathroom and were done without the victim's knowledge, Healey said.

The man was released Friday afternoon after posting $7,500 bail. He will be in 4th District Court next Friday for a first appearance.

The man worked as an assistant professor of information systems at the Marriott School of Management and has been teaching at BYU since 1988 until he resigned Friday afternoon, said BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins said.

"The situation is of grave concern to us," she said. "We are taking the appropriate measures to handle this situation. We are cooperating fully with the Provo City Police Department."

According to the probable cause statement filed in 4th District Court by Provo police, the man told investigators that he was sexually aroused by watching the videos and that is why he kept the files on his computer.

Pornography is a major factor in a large majority of sexual abuse or assault crimes, Healey said.

Healey said the three detectives that work solely in Provo's sex crimes unit are "completely overwhelmed" by the volume of investigations.

Clinical psychologist Allan Roe said he sees close to 25 people a week in his Orem office, many of whom are struggling with addictions to explicit magazine, movie and Internet images.