Police arrested an Auburn University employee Friday on child pornography charges.
The Auburn Police Division arrested Dennis Rae Ledbetter, 46, on three felony warrants charging him possession of child pornography, according to an APD press release.
Ledbetter, who is a lieutenant with University public safety, is also a contract instructor for a women's self-defense class, according the College of Education website. The self-defense class focused on teaching the Rape Aggression Defense System, or RAD.
The University immediately placed Ledbetter on leave upon notification of his arrest, according to a statement from Mike Clardy, interim assistant vice president for communications and marketing.
"Auburn University officials were notified by the Auburn Police Division of an investigation Wednesday and began providing all requested information," the University's statement reads. "Upon notification of an arrest, the university immediately placed Mr. Ledbetter on administrative leave. The university is continuing to work with police."
On Nov. 30, information was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Organization and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency indicating child pornography was downloaded to a campus computer, which was identified with the help of the University Office of Information Technology, the release said.
Further investigation led by the APD, ALEA and Internet Crimes against Children task force led to a search of Ledbetter's office and computer, where officials found images, including three images of prepubescent female victims who are not from the Auburn area, according to the release.
Detectives immediately took Ledbetter into custody. The investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible. Ledbetter was transported to the Lee County Jail and will be eligible for a $90,000 bond.
Elizabeth Blessing, senior in accounting, took Ledbetter's self-defense class during the spring 2016 semester.
"It was one of the most applicable classes that I've ever taken at Auburn in terms of dangerous situations you could find yourself in," she said. "Mr. Ledbetter was completely professional in his instruction. He was always very proper in explaining and demonstrating defense moves."
She saw no visible signs that he would do something like download child pornography.
"I gave him extremely high marks on his evaluation," Blessing said. "I thought he and the other officers did a great job. This is a complete surprise to hear that he would be involved in something like that."
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