Crime & Safety
School Worker Runs Over Child Porn Evidence With Car: Police
A school maintenance worker is being investigated by St. Petersburg police for allegedly possessing and distributing child porn.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL —A 42-year-old St. Petersburg man who works at a Largo school is accused of using his personal computer to possess and distribute child pornography, St. Pete police said.
Detectives arrested Joseph Leonard Tuesday on charges of unlawful use of a two-way communications device and tampering with physical evidence.
When the suspect learned he was being investigated, police said Leonard drove his vehicle over the computer that allegedly had the child porn images, and threw it into a dumpster afterwards.
Find out what's happening in St. Petefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Leonard worked evenings from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School, 6410 118th Ave N, Largo, investigators said. He had minimal contact with students.
He resigned from his position with the Pinellas School District after his arrest, authorities said.
Find out what's happening in St. Petefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Although detectives have no indication that any children at the school were victims, anyone with information is asked to contact St. Pete Police Department at 727-893-7780 or text SPPD plus your tip to TIP411. Report 2020-003824
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