An Athens man was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly possessing child pornography, according to a news release by the Athens County Sheriff’s office.
Jeffrey Shira, 60, is facing preliminary charges of 10 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, a second degree felony.
Shira is an application support representative in the Office of Information Technology. He was originally hired in August 1997 and currently earns $53,529 per year.
Shira has been on paid administrative leave since Wednesday, Stephanie Filson, OU spokeswoman, said in an email.
The man was first approached by the Sheriff’s Office in his workplace, the Computer Services Center on West Union Street.
The sheriff’s office was referred the case by Athens Police Department on Feb. 16 after APD received a complaint of child pornography.
The report said “it was suspected he was involved in child pornography when two USB Flash Drives were inadvertently left with a donation through a local church.”
The sheriff’s office deputies searched Shira’s residence, uncovering child pornography. Shira was arrested and transferred to Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, with a $250,000 bond schedule.
“The university is not in a position to comment at this time, as there is an active investigation under way,” Filson said.
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