Scandal in Attendorn: Teacher for child pornography convicted!

Scandal in Attendorn: Teacher for child pornography convicted!

In a sensational case from Attendorn, a 50-year-old educator was pulled in front of the lay judge after he was in possession of a considerable amount of child pornography. As early as 2021, photos and videos with illegal content were secured during a check. This case became particularly interested in when a DVD was discovered in July 2021 with criminal files in the accused's car. Employees of a car workshop immediately reported the find to the police. This note led to a search of the educator's apartment three months later, where other data carriers could be ensured.

A total of 72 files with representations of children under the age of 14 and 667 files with representations of young people between the ages of 14 and 18 were found in the possession of the accused. The content ranged from harmless poses to actual abuse. Despite the severity of the allegations, the accused expressed remorse, but could not give a conclusive explanation for his behavior. However, his defense lawyer emphasized that no incidents in the real world have been known.

legal consequences and procedures

Since the allegations became known, the accused has been suspended as an official. He has no criminal record or psychiatric treatments in the past, but showed willingness to therapy if he is imposed on a suspended sentence. The prosecutor applied for one year for probation as well as a money requirement and a therapy instruction. The court ultimately imposed a probation penalty of one year, combined with a monetary requirement of 1,500 euros in favor of the "Inva" association. In addition, the accused must provide evidence of his therapy efforts within 12 months. However, his defense lawyer is considering refraining from appeal.

In the further context, the case also raises questions about the role of organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NcMec), whose work contributes significantly to investigation of cases like this. The majority of the procedures in Germany are based on the results of this organization, which was founded in the 1980s. It supports both US authorities and international partners in the fight against the exploitation of children.

In Germany, reports to NCMEC often lead to investigations that can also affect innocent people. The cybertipline of the NCMEC analyzes reports of platforms and private individuals and forwards them to the corresponding law enforcement authorities. This function is of crucial importance in order to be able to react faster to suspicious cases of child pornography.

The challenges associated with these procedures are shown by the fact that NCMEC reports are often not sufficient to obtain a conviction. Affected people who are incorrectly accused face complex legal challenges and often need the expertise of specialized law firms in the area of ​​sexual criminal law in order to be able to defend themselves effectively.