Theology Professor Charged With Possessing Pornographic Images of Toddlers

A theology professor who allegedly stored pornographic images of children on his work computer has been federally charged, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.

Charles Kilby Bellinger, 62, a professor of theology and librarian at the Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, was charged via criminal complaint with possession of child pornography and arrested on Oct. 4. 

The federal investigation began after TCU’s IT staff reported they had detected pornographic images with concerning file names, including “infant” and “toddler,” on Dr. Bellinger’s work computer.

On a hard drive and an SD card removed from Dr. Bellinger’s office, investigators found multiple sexually explicit images of pre-pubescent minors.

At a detention hearing on Thursday, an agent testified that law enforcement also seized multiple encrypted devices from a locked safe in his office. Forensic investigation of those devices is ongoing.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Like all defendants, Dr. Bellinger is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

The U.S. Secret Service and the Fort Worth Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit conducted the investigation with the Texas Christian University Campus Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aisha Saleem is prosecuting the case.