Milford Schools Employee Terminated After Child Pornography Charges: Police

MILFORD, CT — A Milford Public Schools employee was terminated after being charged with allegedly possessing videos containing child pornography, police and school officials said Thursday afternoon.

School and police officials stress that the child pornography was not connected to the individual's job and was found on the accused's computer at home in Milford.

In November of 2016 the Milford Police Department began an investigation after receiving notification from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that videos containing child pornography were uploaded from a Milford residence, police said in a news release.

A search warrant was obtained and the investigation revealed the videos had been uploaded at the residence, police said. On January 13, 2017, Douglas Mehan, 50, of Bray Avenue, Milford, was arrested by warrant for possession of child pornography, police said. He is charged with first-degree possession of child pornography and held in lieu of a $25,000 bond.

He has been employed as a janitor at Meadowside Elementary School, the New Haven Register reports.

In a school district statement, officials said, the "Milford Public Schools was made aware of an investigation involving an individual who was employed by the school district. Based on the nature of the investigation, the employee was immediately placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the police department’s investigation.

"At the conclusion of the police investigation, a warrant was issued for the individual’s arrest. The employee has been terminated from Milford Public Schools. The investigations conducted by the police department and the school district found that the criminal charges were not related to the individual’s employment with the school district," the school system's statement concludes.

UPDATE from Milford Public Schools at 5 p.m. Thursday

Douglas Mehan was employed by the Milford Public Schools as a night custodian.

- He began his employment as a part time/temporary custodian on June 20, 2016 and worked sporadic part time assignments throughout the summer and fall of 2016.
- He was hired as a full time night custodian on 12/1/2016 and assigned to Meadowside School.
- On Dec. 21, 2016, Milford Public Schools was made aware of an investigation involving Mr. Mehan. He was immediately placed on administrative leave the same day.
- On Jan. 12, 2017, an arrest warrant was issued for Mr. Mehan. He was terminated from employment the same day.
- The investigations conducted by the police department and the school district found that the criminal charges were not related to the individual’s employment with the school district. The police found no evidence of actions leading to his arrest that occurred while in our school buildings.
- A search of Milford Public Schools computers found no evidence of improper use by Mr. Mehan.

Image via the Milford Police Department