A senior technology specialist at Middlebury College pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges of possessing child pornography.
Scott Remick, 46, of Bristol, was arrested July 7 after a hacker illegally accessed Remick’s hard drive, found images of child pornography and turned him over to authorities.
The images include children as young as age 7 and children restrained in bondage and handcuffs, according to an affidavit prepared by Homeland Security Investigation Special Agent Michael McCullagh and filed in federal court in Burlington.
If convicted, Remick could serve up to 10 years in prison and be required to register as a sexual offender.
Remick is currently in the hospital for his mental health and does not yet have a discharge date, federal defense attorney Steven L. Barth said during Remick’s arraignment.
Authorities have seized more than 100 hard drives, computers and digital media from Remick. Many of those belong to customers of Vermont Geek, the computer repair business Remick owns, Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara A. Masterson said during the arraignment.
In court Monday, Judge Kevin J. Doyle allowed 90 days to file pretrial motions, owing to Remick’s condition and the extent of the evidence the attorneys must examine.
Authorities are also continuing to investigate the hacker and how that person obtained the information.
Authorities referred to the hacker as a “researcher” working as a private software developer and security analyst researching a specific software flaw, and have not disclosed the person’s identity, according to the affidavit.
At Remick’s detention hearing last month, federal defense attorney Barclay T. Johnson raised concerns that Remick’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated, given that he was charged after the hacker illegally accessed his files. The hacker was granted immunity by the government, though the hacker did not know that would be the case when Remick was reported, according to the affidavit.
Remick was released on conditions July 9 after Judge Doyle denied Masterson’s motion to detain Remick through criminal proceedings. The government sought detention because Remick posed a danger to the community and was a flight risk.
Remick has most likely been placed on leave by Middlebury College.
Sarah Ray, director of media relations, declined to comment on Remick’s employment status except to say that “current employees are listed in our directory.” Remick is still listed.
“Middlebury complies with and cooperates in all matters involving lawful requests from authorities,” Ray said. “In the rare event of an arrest, we ordinarily place the employee on leave and take other appropriate steps while we gather more information.”
The government is confident that it will secure a conviction based on the strength and extent of the evidence, Masterson said at Remick’s detention hearing last month.
Both federal defense attorney Steven L. Barth and Assistant U.S Attorney Barbara A. Masterson declined to comment to VTDigger on the case.
