Media Services Director Cleared
of Child Pornography Charges
Charges were dismissed January 23 against a Wisconsin high school media services director accused of possession of child pornography for owning the sex-education book Show Me.
Thomas Janiak, 51, was arrested October 13 after a college intern helping him move into a new home claimed Janiak showed him pornography and made unwanted sexual advances. Janiak told the Associated Press that he had removed the title from the library because he found it inappropriate and forgot to return it, adding, “The only thing I did wrong was that I didn’t burn the darn thing.”
Brown County Assistant District Attorney Dana Johnson asked the judge to drop the felony charge on grounds of insufficient evidence. “I think I would have a hard time proving to the jury that this is a child pornography case when this book is widely available at institutions,” said Johnson.
Janiak said he would not attempt to regain his job as media services director at De Pere High School, where school officials had placed him on administrative leave.
Posted January 29, 2001.
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