WHEELING - An accused rapist allegedly caught viewing child pornography at the Martins Ferry Public Library probably couldn't have done so in a West Virginia library.
Quentin N. Phillips was held Tuesday in the Belmont County Jail following his arrest Saturday on charges of rape and pandering sexually oriented matter involving a child. Phillips allegedly confessed to having sexual intercourse with a young boy "continuously for several years" after being taken into custody Saturday at the Martins Ferry library.
A librarian saw the 32-year-old Martins Ferry resident looking at the pornography and called police.
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Photo by Scott McCloskey
Ohio County Public Library Director Dottie Thomas uses one of the computers that provides Internet service to the community. She said West Virginia libraries benefit from the filtering of Internet sites.
West Virginia Library Commission Executive Secretary J.D. Wagoner said his agency pays for the filtering of computers in all public libraries in the Mountain State. The filtering is done by the West Virginia Office of Technology, and Wagoner said it involves both site and key word filtering.
Ohio County Public Library Director Dottie Thomas said West Virginia libraries benefit from the filtering being done on the state level.
"It is very nice because we don't have to worry about installing filters on the computers," Thomas said.
Fact Box
WHAT IS THE LAW?
In U.S. v. American Library Association, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2003 that a law passed by Congress could protect children from pornography on library computers without violating free speech.
"Because public libraries have traditionally excluded pornographic material from their other collections, Congress could reasonably impose a parallel limitation on its Internet assistance programs," Justice William Rehnquist wrote.
Wagoner said the filters are effective. He noted, however, that those posting pornography work consistently to bypass those filters. He said people posting pornography have additional resources as well.
"Those who host porn sites have more money to invest in getting their content to people than we have to stop them," Wagoner said. "It is a constant security issue."
In addition to filters, Wagoner said there are additional steps that can be taken to prevent pornography from being downloaded on library computers. He said the computers should be placed where they can be seen clearly by library patrons and staff.
"Shame is one of the best filters there is," Wagoner said.
Martins Ferry Public Library Director Yvonne Myers said those using the Internet there must sign an agreement to not view inappropriate material. She said people who violate that agreement are either suspended or banned from the library. Myers said Phillips was coming to the Martins Ferry library almost daily.
"We are not an adult book store, we are a public library," Myers said. "They (staff members) suspected he was looking, but you hope your worst fears aren't true. We don't like to spy as a rule, but it's in a public area so you can't help but see what people are looking at."
Myers said she also wonders if Phillips was hoping to be caught.
"I don't know when it's so blatant," she said. "We do wonder. We didn't hesitate at all when (the librarian) saw what he was doing."
Police reportedly recovered a "flash drive," or portable computer memory device, from Phillips and found173 photos and videos of naked children stored on it.
Some of those pictures showed children engaged in sex acts with each other and with adults. Several other photos were of children being sexually assaulted by adults, according to the city police report.
Martins Ferry Police Chief Barry Carpenter said Phillips is a former Michigan resident, but Carpenter does not know how long Phillips has lived in Martins Ferry. The chief said investigators do not believe Phillips has a criminal history.
A representative of Belmont County Children's Services was called along with police to execute a search warrant at Phillips' 1825 Hill St. home. Officers recovered a flash drive, a digital camera, a disposable camera, a camcorder videos and nude photos there.
Carpenter credited the staff of the Martins Ferry Public Library for contacting police. He said the situation is disturbing.