Butler University professor fired after being charged for child porn
INDIANAPOLIS (WIBC) — Butler University has informed students through its campus updates that a professor has been fired after he was arrested on charges of child pornography.
Tiberiu Popa, 52, a former philosophy professor, is facing 10 counts of child pornography. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department arrested him Friday after getting a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Popa used his Butler University email address to upload 24 files of suspected child pornography.
IMPD went to Popa’s home Friday with a search warrant and seized multiple electronic devices, including a laptop containing several pictures of children in sexual situations. Police say Popa initially denied viewing explicit photos of children but later confessed.
The school has confirmed that a note was sent to students from the Butler University campus updates email. The letter states that on Friday professor Popa “was arrested on multiple felony charges related to child pornography.” The school calls the accusations “an abhorrent crime.”
The school says Popa is no longer employed at Butler.
“I think it was a good decision by the university, President (James) Danko, and everyone else involved, and there’s not much you can do,” said Ryan Fredrick, a senior at Butler.
The university also says it doesn’t have any reason to believe that any inappropriate conduct happened on campus or with any Butler students.
IMPD is leading the investigation with assistance from Butler University Police.
