Child-porn suspect seeks Internet access

A Vancouver Public Schools employee who’s accused of possessing online child pornography asked a judge Friday to permit him to have Internet access to look for a new job.

Alex J. Wright, 30, appeared for his arraignment and entered not-guilty pleas to one count of first-degree dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct and four counts of first-degree possessing depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

His trial is scheduled for April 9.

Wright was assigned to Thomas Jefferson Middle School but is on leave from the district pending the outcome of the case, according to Pat Nuzzo, the district’s communications director. Investigators don’t believe Wright had any improper images of or contact with Thomas Jefferson students.

Wright was arrested Jan. 28 following an investigation by the Vancouver Police Department’s Digital Evidence Cybercrime Unit. Investigators identified an Internet Protocol address associated with child pornography files and traced it back to Wright, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.

On Friday, Wright’s attorney, Jack Green, asked Judge Scott Collier to modify the conditions of Wright’s release. He said Wright will likely lose his job and will need to use the Internet to search for a new one.

Collier said he would allow Wright to use the Internet if he is chaperoned by a responsible adult. Wright will need to provide a list of people who can monitor his Internet use and report back to supervised release.

Wright has worked for Vancouver Public Schools since 2010 in several capacities. Most recently, he was hired as a student success advocate in September 2015 at the middle school, and worked with students in conjunction with the counselors at the school, Nuzzo said.