A temporary closure at the National Solar Observatory's facility in Sunspot, N.M., was tied to an FBI child pornography investigation, according to court documents.
The Associated Press reports that the Sunspot Solar Observatory, which closed from Sept. 6-17 for a previously unspecified issue, was searched by FBI agents for computers, cellphones and other devices owned or operated by the facility's janitor, Joshua Lee Cope, who lives near the facility in a trailer on property owned by his parents.
An FBI spokesman told the AP on Thursday that Cope, 30, has not been charged with a crime but remains under investigation. The facility's chief observer discovered a laptop belonging to Cope several months ago containing child pornography but did not report it after being "distracted" by an unspecified issue, the AP reported, citing an FBI search warrant affidavit filed in federal court.
The facility initially closed after Cope made erratic statements about the possibility of a serial killer entering the facility and killing an employee. Those remarks were made after he discovered that his laptop was missing, according to court documents obtained by the AP.
The Hill
Friday, September 21, 2018
The mystery over New Mexico observatory is solved
Labels:
crime,
New Mexico observatory,
sexual predators
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