Former principal pleads not guilty to receiving child porn

A former Dubuque County elementary school principal pleaded not guilty in U.S District Court Friday to receiving child pornography.

Former Sageville Elementary School Principal Robert Burke, 43, also waived his detention hearing until he can hire an attorney.

Burke is accused of downloading child porn. Investigators also found evidence that he videotaped students in the boy's restroom at the school. He was charged last Friday, and the Dubuque Community School Board voted last Saturday morning to terminate his contract with the school district.

U.S. Magistrate Jon Scoles said Burke didn't qualify for a court-appointed attorney according to his financial affidavit, which showed he had $25,000 in a savings or checking account.

Burke, who appeared in an orange jumpsuit with handcuffs and legcuffs, admitted the financial information was correct.

A federal public defender, Jill Johnston, represented Burke for Friday's hearing.

Scoles gave Burke the option to go ahead with the detention hearing, and Johnston could represent him or he could waive his right until he was able to find a new attorney. Scoles said he expected Burke to retain an attorney next week.

A trial was set for Aug. 8, and a status conference hearing will be July 13.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Tremmel said he wanted to make the court aware of the trial date because the government's investigation is continuing and because the videotaping information just came to light last week. It's possible that the government will seek additional charges, Tremmel said.

An FBI agent in Washington D.C. on April 10 found eight downloaded images of child pornography on Burke's computer at his residence in Dubuque, according to the criminal complaint. The images included 8- and 10-year-old boys performing oral sex.

During a search of Burke's home last Friday, authorities seized his computer and other items, according to the complaint. Printed images were also found, including some depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

During an interview, Burke admitted he had downloaded the child pornography since January, according to the complaint. He also admitted to placing a hidden video camera in the boy's restroom at Sageville Elementary. Burke said he never touched any of the children in a sexual manner, only produced the video images of students.

The Dubuque School Board fired Burke last Saturday in an emergency meeting after he was charged.

If convicted, Burke faces five to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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