Here’s why this man will answer to 25 counts alleging publication of lurid child pornography …
Police come to outer East Portland and arrest a custodian working here, at James Madison High School, in the Madison South neighborhood.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Some teachers at James Madison High School said they were horrified to learn that a man, charged with child pornography, and possessing Methamphetamine, had been a Portland Public Schools employee working at their school.
“Our youngest kids here are early teenagers. Learning that someone here – and do I understand he’s been charged, and not that he has yet been found guilty – is suspected of amassing child pornography, is very troubling,” remarked a Madison High employee who asked East Portland News not to be identified.
That man, 34-year-old Mitchell Jon Grandlund, was arrested in the parking lot of the school on April 10, and was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) at 6:33 p.m., on charges alleging possession of and publishing child pornography.
The day following his arrest, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill announced that, after reviewing the case, the office had filed a 25-count charging document which includes 12 counts of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first degree, 12 counts of encouraging child sexual abuse in the second degree, and one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine.
Facing multiple felony charges related to child pornography is 34-year-old Mitchell Jon Grandlund. MCDC booking photo
According to court documents, this investigation started in January, when law enforcement officials received multiple online reports from an Internet company, alleging that Grandlund was uploading child pornography images and videos to an online account.
Subsequently, a court authorized a search warrant, and law enforcement reported finding more than 7,000 child pornography files in Grandlund’s online account depicting prepubescent children being sexually abused and raped.
Then, also under the search warrant, law enforcement found children’s underwear in Grandlund’s vehicle, parked in the school’s lot when he was arrested, according to court documents – as well as methamphetamine in his possession.
Law enforcement only learned of Grandlund’s position with Portland Public Schools on April 5, five days before his arrest, court documents indicated.
According to court papers, investigators did a forensic analysis of Grandlund’s smart phone, and obtained physical evidence that included thousands of additional child pornography files, and evidence that showed the child victims depicted in those files were between 4 and 12 years old.
After his arraignment, Grandlund was lodged in MCDC, where he remains, in lieu of $305,000 combined bail.
© 2019 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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