Police: More Charges Coming Against Ex-School IT Worker

A former Portsmouth Schools IT worker who allegedly tried to solicit sex from a 15-year-old Portsmouth High School student last month was ordered held on $10,000 cash bail on Monday in Portsmouth Circuit Court.

Kenneth Kimber, 34, of Portsmouth appeared in court with his lawyer, Attorney Joseph Prieto of Manchester, as some of his family members watched from the gallery.

Kimber was arraigned on three felony counts of certain uses of a computer prohibited, and five felony counts of indecent exposure. Portsmouth Police arrested Kimber on Feb. 13 after an investigation determined that he was using a Portsmouth School Department computer to try and solicit sex from a teenage girl between Feb. 4 and Feb. 11. The Portsmouth School Department fired Kimber on the same day that he was arrested and school officials assured the community all Portsmouth School students were safe.

On Monday, Kimber's attorney argued that his client should remain free on $5,000 cash bail, which Kimber posted following his arrest. But Portsmouth Police Prosecutor Rena DiLando argued that based on the predatory nature of the alleged offenses in this case, Kimber's bail should be increased to $25,000 cash bail.

DiLando also said the police investigation into this case is revealing evidence of other potential cases.

"We will be back with additional charges," she said.

According to Portsmouth Circuit Court officials, the police affidavit and other court documents in Kimber's case are sealed, so there wasn't any specific information available about the nature of the alleged offenses. DiLando said that Kimber used his computer at the Portsmouth Schools to solicit sex from the 15-year-old teenage girl and that he emailed her photos of his genitalia. Police also have cell phone messages that he left for the teen, she said.

"What we are trying to show is that he continues to be a danger to the community," DiLando said. She added that a number of Kimber's electronic devices have been seized with the exception of his cell phone that is capable of performing online social media activity.

She also said that Kimber sent emails to several people in the Portsmouth Schools community apologizing for his actions close to the time that he was arrested and his emails to family members of the alleged victim in this case demonstrates potential witness tampering.

Prieto objected to DiLando trying to introduce potential additional charges that have not been brought yet against Kimber. He argued that bail should be based on the charges that were currently before the court and that $5,000 cash bail was sufficient

He also argued that Kimber is not a flight risk.

"My client is currently in counseling and supports his child," Prieto said.

Prieto also argued that if prosecutors were so concerned about Kimber being a danger to society, then they should have moved on that issue and requested higher bail at the time of his arrest.

"Mr. Kimber didn't become a danger on March 4," Prieto said. "There is a lot more to this story."

DiLando said the fact that police are uncovering evidence of multiple potential victims is also part of the story that Prieto referenced.

"What else is going on does not help his client or make his client less of a danger to the community," DiLando said.

Judge Sawato Gardner set bail at $10,000 cash bail and $15,000 personal recognizance. She ordered that Kimber have no contact with any school property anywhere in New Hampshire and no contact with minors under the age of 18, including his 1-year-old child. She ordered that he have no firearms, weapons, ammunition, explosive devices, alcohol or drugs and that he be subjected to random home inspections to monitor his cell phone use.

Kimber is due back in court for a probable cause hearing on March 12 at 8:30 a.m.