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Plano referees face child porn charges
Stephanie Flemmons, sflemmons@acnpapers.com
Two Plano Dr Pepper StarCenter hockey referees were recently indicted on federal charges for possessing child pornography.
Travis Hunter Blank, 32, was arrested June 29 and faces up to 20 years for possessing and transporting child pornography by e-mail.
Ed Reusch, StarCenter vice president, said in a prepared statement that both men are no longer being assigned any hockey games through the Metroplex Hockey Officials Organization.
“We want to inform you that Dallas Stars management has taken steps to bar two contract referees from all StarCenters following their indictment and arrests on child pornography charges,” he said in the statement. “This kind of situation is, of course, unsettling and disturbing, but there has been no evidence that anything improper occurred at a StarCenter or that it impacted any players.”
Reusch said StarCenter officials discussed the situation with Metroplex Hockey officials and are confident they will examine their screening processes to see if anything could have been done differently in this situation. He said the men were contract employees and were not employed directly by the StarCenter.
“Rest assured that every potential employee of this organization must undergo a mandatory drug test and a criminal background check,” he said.
According to Mandy Griffith, federal prosecutor and project safe childhood coordinator, Blanks investigation was led by the Plano Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security. The task force revealed Blank transported child pornography – both within the United States and to foreign countries -- that he obtained on his home computer.
Griffith said Gove’s investigation was led by the FBI and the bureau’s Investigating Innocent Images International Task Force. The investigation revealed Gove was in possession of 10 video clips depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
According to Todd Shapiro, Blank’s attorney, he remains in custody in the Rockwall County Jail. Shapiro said the judge denied his release on bond despite a spine-related medical condition for which he needs surgery.
“Supposedly a live video he allegedly sent to someone put him in another category,” Shapiro said. “They also recovered 20 to 25 images from his computer, but he was only indicted for five.”
Shapiro said they pleaded not guilty to both counts and are set for trial Jan. 12.
According to Gove’s attorney, Frank Jackson, he was released from jail after his arrest on a personal recognizance bond.
“There was not anything that would cause him to be any kind of threat,” Jackson said. “We plan to enter a not guilty plea.”
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