A Boy Scout leader arrested last week on local child pornography charges is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Tacoma today to face federal charges.
After posting a $25,000 bond, Darrel James Dwight, 52, of Vancouver appeared Monday in Clark County Superior Court, where Judge Gregory Gonzales set conditions for his release. The judge prohibited Dwight, who recently worked as a substitute teacher for Evergreen Public Schools, from having contact with minors and from accessing the Internet or computers. He is required to live with his mother at her home in the Northwest neighborhood.
The federal charges against him will not be released until his first appearance in U.S. District Court today, said Emily Langlie, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Gail Spolar, spokeswoman for the school district, said Dwight substituted at several school systems in the Vancouver area. He has substituted in the Evergreen district since 2009 and only in elementary classrooms, Spolar said.
“Mr. Dwight has been removed from the Evergreen school district substitute system and is no longer considered an active substitute teacher,” Spolar said in a statement Monday.
She said law enforcement has asked parents who have concerns to call 911.
Dwight is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 8 in Clark County Superior Court on 10 counts of possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He also faces federal charges for allegedly ordering child pornography from a Canadian company and having it shipped to the United States, according to court papers.
He was arrested Wednesday when investigators with the U.S. Inspection Service served a search warrant on his person and residence.
During a search of Dwight’s pockets, law enforcement officers found two thumb drives. A computer forensic special agent with U.S. Homeland Security analyzed the contents of the thumb drives and found 600 images, including photos and videos of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit activity, according to a probable cause affidavit by Vancouver police Officer Tom Topaum.
Much of the content involved boys between the ages of 8 and 12, Topaum wrote.
He indicated that Dwight also has served as a director for Stephenson Children Care Association and as treasurer for Boy Scout Troop 316, which meets in Hazel Dell.
