N.C. State Student Faces Child Porn Charge
Raleigh, N.C. — 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.
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.
- Reporter: Sloane Heffernan
- Photographer: Greg Clark
- Web Editor: Ron Gallagher
RELATED TOPICS: Union County, Wake County, NC State University
Copyright 2011 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
49 Comments
| MOST | Viewed | E-mailed | Discussed |
Most E-mailed Stories
Most E-mailed Videos | |||
Multimedia
Key dates in the investigation of Lance Armstrong on charges he used performance-enhancing drugs.
Key events in Iran's relations with the West.
An interactive look at the controversial decision and reversal of the Susan G. Komen Foundation to stop funding breast exams at Planned Parenthood.
Save Money On Your Energy Bill - togetherwesave.com
Special savings on contacts at Eye Care Associates



![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/out_and_about/2012/02/04/10712136/pics_agunn53833-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.highschoolot.com/asset/content/2012/02/11/10717011/10717011-1328936455-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.highschoolot.com/asset/content/2012/02/11/10717059/10717059-1328939591-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.highschoolot.com/asset/content/2012/02/11/10717043/10717043-1328939633-100x75.jpg)






WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.
This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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...
March 5, 2007 4:09 p.m.
March 5, 2007 7:45 a.m.
March 4, 2007 8:19 p.m.
March 4, 2007 11:45 a.m.
March 4, 2007 10:40 a.m.