TVSpy
A reporter for WHSV in Winchester, Virginia has been arrested on child pornography charges. Ryan O’Connor, a 23-year-old weekend reporter known for his skills as a backpack journalist, was arrested on Monday morning and charged with four counts of child pornography, one count of taking indecent liberties with a child and one count of using a computer related to those crimes, according to WHSV.
O’Connor is currently being held without bond and a hearing is scheduled in Winchester General District Court on Tuesday.
O’Connor has been under investigation for several months after authorities received reports that he had sent lewd photos of himself to a 14-year-old girl in Illinois by e-mail, Winchester police Sgt. Amanda Baker told the North Virginia Daily. Police raided O’Connor’s apartment on Monday and seized his computer as well as printed photos.
WHSV is owned by Gray Communications. Regional Vice President Tracey Jones announced on Monday that O’Connor’s employment at the station has been terminated.
According to WHAG reporter Angelique Gonzalez, O’Connor is listed as a board member with Winchester, Frederick and Clarke County’s Crime Solvers Inc.