Del. School Janitor Busted for Child Porn

A school custodian in Delaware is behind bars on child porn charges following an undercover on-line investigation, according to Attorney General Beau Biden.

Delaware State Police arrested Catlin Carl Lathem, 20, on Tuesday at his home on Birchgrove Road in Newark.

The arrest was made after an on-line investigation led authorities to the address. A search of the home uncovered various digital media, including three computers, containing pornographic materials. On the computers were more than 50 pornographic files featuring children, according to officials.

Latham is a part-time grounds keeper and custodian for Red Lion Christian Academy, a private school in the town of Bear. The school serves students from preschool through 12th grade. Latham has worked there for about two years.

"It's a very sobering thing to consider and not a phone call any of us ever would want to get," said Red Lion headmaster Shannon Dare. "It was very shocking."

Dare says Latham had minimal contact with students since he worked after school hours. Parents, who were notified by a school email, are still concerned however.

"It's very upsetting," said Jeff Tracy. "I have a daughter that goes to the school."

According to court documents, Latham told investigators that he "had an interest in 12 to 14-year-old females." Investigators won't say if Latham may have been involved with Red Lion students. School administrators say there's no evidence of any involvement.

"He always said hello, just a nice kid," said Latham's next door neighbor Lee Soboconski. "I hope this gets resolved quickly and that nothing really comes of it."

Latham is being held at James T. Vaughan Correctional Center on $625,000 bail. He faces 25 counts of dealing child pornography.

 

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