Librarian Fired for Reporting Child Porn User Demands Job Back
A librarian in California who was fired after reporting to the police about a man who was using a library computer to view child pornography is demanding her job back.
Fla.-based Christian legal group Liberty Counsel has sent a demand letter to the Tulare County Library in Lindsay, Calif., requesting that officials reinstate library assistant Brenda Biesterfeld.
The letter also asks that the library change its policy to prevent the use of library property for illegal behavior, to establish a prompt reporting system, and to take measures to protect children, according to an announcement Tuesday.
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Mathew D. Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel and dean of Liberty University's School of Law, called the decision to fire Biesterfeld "outrageous."
"Child pornography is illegal under state and federal laws," stated Staver. "Brenda Biesterfeld had a moral and a legal responsibility to report to police a library patron whom she observed viewing child pornography.
"Child pornography is a despicable crime against children," he added. "Our tax dollars should not be used to provide safe havens for sexual perverts to view child pornography."
Biesterfeld had contacted her supervisor, Judy Hill, after noticing the incident and asked for advice on how to handle the situation.
"I told her I was shocked because I have boys that age, and he might as well have had my youngest one up on that screen," Biesterfeld recalled telling Hill, according to the Visalia Times Delta. "I told her I was sick to my stomach and angry."
When Biesterfeld asked if she should call the police, Hill told her only to issue a warning to the man, who was later identified by police as 39-year-old Donny Lynn Chrisle, but not to contact police.
Biesterfeld was also told by Hill that such incidents happen more often than she would think.
Despite her supervisor's instructions, Biesterfeld said she later contacted police.
Biesterfeld again called the police when Chrisler came to the library on Mar. 4 asking to use a computer. The man was arrested that day on child-pornography charges.
But two days later, Biesterfeld received a letter signed by County Librarian Brian Lewis saying her probationary status is being "terminated" and her employment ended immediately.
Lewis said there were sound business reasons behind her firing but would not go into detail, reported the Visalia Times Delta.
Randy Thomasson, president of Campaign for Children and Families, who has also been in contact with the library on behalf of Biesterfeld, denounced the firing.
"The liberals who run the library system in America must stop violating the federal law because they regard child pornography as 'free speech,'" he said in a statement. "Brenda Biesterfeld will get her job back, and more."
The incident has also outraged community residents and caught the attention of city officials.
Last Wednesday, Lindsay Mayor Ed Murray and other city council officials sent a letter to the Tulare County Board of Supervisors, criticizing Hill and Lewis over their handling of the child-pornography incident.
The letter also charged Hill with being uncooperative and demanding while talking to police about the matter.
The Tulare County Board of Supervisors was scheduled to hold a session evaluation of Lewis during its meeting Tuesday.
A prayer vigil for Biesterfeld and the children of Lindsay meanwhile was scheduled to take place Tuesday evening at the Lindsay United Methodist Church.
