A former part-time emergency medical technician for the Port Washington Fire Department has been charged with a felony for possessing child pornography.
Timothy Lund, 54, was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice after the department received a tip through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children linking him to an account that had shared a video determined to be child pornography on a messaging app.
Over the course of a three-week investigation in July, agents discovered the video was sent from an IP address associated with the Port Washington Police Department, which shares internet service with the fire department, according to the criminal complaint.
According to an Aug. 7 news release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Lund was employed by the fire department as a part-time EMT.
Joe DeBoer, Port Washington’s fire chief and EMS service director, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an Aug. 7 email that Lund is no longer employed by the Port Washington Fire Department. He did not respond to a question about when Lund ceased to be employed by the department.
According to a criminal complaint filed in the case, special agents obtained through a subpoena information related to the account linked to Lund. Those files included photos and videos of Lund wearing Port Washington Fire Department apparel, numerous explicit photos and videos involving adults and the video that was originally flagged as child pornography.
Special agents determined Lund’s account sent the video involving a child during his 12-hour EMT shift on April 15.
The agents interviewed Lund on July 29. In the interview, Lund acknowledged having viewed “questionable” content on the messaging app where he allegedly sent the video. He said he only ever engaged with explicit content on that messaging app, and had never engaged in relationships with minors — even those who reached out to him on the app.
When agents showed Lund a “sanitized” screen shot of the video, Lund acknowledged having seen and shared content involving the child, but said he presumed her to be 17. Agents described her as significantly younger.
In the interview, Lund acknowledged he is addicted to pornography, which he told agents he watches for 12-15 hours a day, according to the complaint.
Lund first appeared in court on July 30, attending his hearing through video from the Ozaukee County Jail, where he was then in custody, according to online court records. He posted bail and was released from custody later that day.
He is next scheduled to appear before the Ozaukee County Circuit Court on Aug. 25 for a status hearing.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Port Washington EMT sent explicit video during shift, charged with possessing child pornography
Reporting by Ariela Lopez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
