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N.C. State Student Faces Child Porn Charge


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Mark Vasconcellos
Mark Vasconcellos
A student at North Carolina State University was arrested Friday and charged with downloading child pornography.

Last week, N.C. State Campus Police were contacted by the Pennsylvania State Police Internet Crimes Division about a computer IP address at the university that was downloading content.

A subpoena showed the IP address belonged to Mark Aaron Vasconcellos, 20, who resides at Wolf Village Apartments.

Campus police searched Vasconcellos' residence Friday and seized his computer.

Vasconcellos, who is from Waxhaw, N.C., in Union County is charged with one count of felony second-degree exploitation of a minor. He was in custody at the Wake County Jail Friday afternoon under a $250,000 secured bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for March 5.

Students on campus were shocked to learn about the charges.

"Anyone who downloads any kind of thing that looks at little children is absolutely sick to me," said Orrick Quick, a senior.

Ryan Bragg lives with Vasconcellos in the Wolf Village Apartments. WRAL broke the news to him about the roommate he's been friends with since high school. His reaction: "surprised."

The door to Vasconcellos' room is covered with cartoons and a poster that says, "It's all about me. Deal with it."

Bragg said he can't believe the senior chemical engineering student could be accused of such a crime.

"He really doesn't seem like the type of guy who would find something like that interesting," Bragg said.

Vasconcellos isn't the first N.C. State student to be charged with this type of crime.

In 2004, a freshman was accused of using the computer in his dorm to download child pornography. In 1999, Jon Richard Brock, 18, was arrested for storing child porn on his computer. Timothy Gilrane, 22, faced similar charges. Both were later convicted on charges of preparation of obscene literature and sentenced to community service.

"It's very difficult to monitor everybody," said N.C. State Campus Police Chief Thomas Younce.

Younce said that with about 35,000 students and staff on campus, it's tough to keep track of online activity.

Authorities seized Vasconcellos' computer and handed it over to the State Bureau of Investigation for further investigation.

RELATED TOPICS: Union County, Wake County, NC State University

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49 Comments


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http://ncst.facebook.com/profile.php?id=11806253&hiq=vasconcellos

honestly i think this kinda sucks...like i work my ass off to get into state and they let me in here with some freaking child porn sick-o

look at the guys facebook and tell me you are suprised...

I agree with "ferritt's" comment!! Why don't they go to the source of this obscene crap?? They're the ones who absolutely need to be prosecuted! It's just easier to get the little guy on down the line, instead of the main one they need to get!

I just don't understand these kids go to college and this is what they do. My child went to college and couldn't afford to graduate and with our (parents) help. This is getting off the subject but our child did not do this stuff and couln't get financial aid. He wanted to graduate. The university refused to help. The rich they will help. The less fortunate ones and the ones that really care about their education, no matter how much you try to convince the university, they could care less. Thanks for listening friends. I just had to get this off my mind. I know that is water over the dam so to speak but I will never forget the pain we went through.

Sloane Hefferman needs to exclude information not related to the facts of the story. A fact, this is the first NCSU student accused of this....so why do we dig up other things regardless of where the student is attending if not related. Just shows bias on the reporter's part. Not the first incident for her.

Why would Old History be connected to current news. Is at all about the "SENSSATIONALISM". Just what did the old cases really add to the current news. We see cases of legislative abuse constantly, but you certainly didn't go back and dig up old cases there.

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