[November 20, 2009] Area man accused of having child porn Tweet BRATTLEBORO, Nov 20, 2009 (Brattleboro Reformer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A prominent local man has been accused of possessing child pornography and luring a minor via electronic means. Windham Orchestra Director David Runnion, 50, of Brattleboro, was cited Thursday after a lengthy joint investigation by the Brattleboro and Keene, N.H., Police departments that began in May. He is scheduled to appear in Windham District Court to answer to the charges Dec. 29. Brattleboro Police said Runnion had been soliciting a child under the age of 16. Brattleboro Detective Eric Johnson said Runnion's citation was a result of an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Keene (N.H.) Police Department. "This all came to light because of a Keene Police Department investigation," he said. Johnson also said Runnion's alleged behavior was not discovered through a "sting" operation in which a police officer presents him or her self on the Internet as an underage person. "This was a live victim," said Johnson. "It was not an undercover cop. This was an actual victim that we discovered through another case we were investigating." Johnson said during a forensic investigation of Runnion's computer, nude images of the alleged victim were discovered. "This live victim had sent him images," he said. Though Johnson would not describe what the pictures depicted, he did say they constituted child pornography. While Johnson said he could not comment on the current investigation, the citation issued on Thursday had to do with behavior allegedly committed "a few years ago." Runnion was cited for soliciting a minor because he had communicated with the alleged victim in a sexual manner and wanted to engage in a particular sexual act. Runnion, the son of Norman Runnion, a long-time managing editor of the Reformer, referred all questions to his attorney. The state's luring a child statute prohibits any person from luring, enticing or attempting to lure or entice a child under the age of 16. Runnion accepted and/or solicited the minor for nude images, police said, and discussed with the minor the possibility of meeting in person. After obtaining a search warrant, police seized Runnion's electronic devices, including a laptop computer, in July. A forensic scan of those electronic devices revealed images of the minor. According to police, the investigation determined that Runnion met the minor through an online social network and was using the e-mail address "[email protected]." "If anybody had contact with that screen name in an unpleasant nature, specifically a young child, we urge you to call us at 802-257-7950," said Johnson. Johnson said the police department is planning an Internet safety seminar in the next few months to teach children and their parents how to identify and avoid sexual predators who may be trying to contact them via computer. Jaime Cone can be reached at [email protected] or 802-254-2311, ext. 277. Bob Audette can be reached at [email protected], or at 802-254-2311, ext. 273. To see more of the Brattleboro Reformer or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.reformer.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Brattleboro Reformer, Vt. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]