Yavapai College employee accused of accessing child porn on work computer

PRESCOTT - A Yavapai College employee who allegedly viewed child pornography on a computer at YC has been charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

In March, Andrew Barnhart, 67, a YC facilities supervisor, was informed by the college's police department that he was under investigation for viewing child porn between Feb. 20 and March 6, 2105, according to a police probable cause statement.

The college's Information and Technology Systems (ITS) department found that Banrhart's account, using his log-in and password, had visited approximately 250 websites identified as "pornography/sex," the statement said.

"Upon further investigation, it was confirmed by law enforcement personnel that websites were visited by Barnhart that depicted young children sexually exploited," the statement said

When he was told he was being investigated by the college administration, and was placed on administrative leave, Barnhart resigned, a detective said in the report.

Yavapai County Sheriff's detectives searched Barnhart's home on May 21, and found that he had a USB flash drive in his pants pocket. On it were "numerous photos of child erotica," the statement said.

Authorities seized his computer and an external hard drive, on which they said were images of "adults engaged in sex acts with small children."

He was arrested and booked into the Camp Verde jail.

Barnhart is currently free on $15,000 bond.