Police: Stephen Jenson had child porn in U-M hospital work bag on Dec. 2
Police said they found child porn on a thumb drive in resident physician Stephen Jenson’s work bag in December, roughly six months after University of Michigan Hospital officials learned Jenson might have child porn but didn’t tell police.
Details can be found in an audio recording of Jenson's Dec. 17 arraignment that AnnArbor.com obtained Wednesday through the Freedom of Information Act.
Jenson
Records show university officials waited six months before filing a report with university police after another resident physician told them she found child porn on a thumb drive that was left in a computer at the Pediatric Emergency Department. She reported that she saw a photo of a “nude adult lying” on a young child whose arms "were bound" and appeared to be tied to a bed frame.
University police Detective Margie Pillsbury testified at Jenson's arraignment at the Washtenaw County Jail, arguing for a $25,000 cash bond. She testified that when police executed a search warrant Dec. 2 at Jenson's home in Pittsfield Township, they found child porn on a thumb drive in his work bag, on a laptop computer in his living room and on a hard drive in his bedroom.
“We executed the search warrant, we recovered numerous items, including laptop computers, external hard drives, and, in Mr. Jenson’s work bag, which he wanted to take because he had to work that day and go to work, there were three thumb drives," she testified. "Two of the thumb drives had no pornography or child pornography on them whatsoever.
"One of the thumb drives was the thumb drive that we had identified having been on the hospital computer previously. My counterparts did a forensic examination of the thumb drive and they found three images of child pornography on that thumb drive, including the picture of the prepubescent child nude and bound with ropes or some sort of tying mechanism.”
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"I asked him how long this has been going on," she testified. "He said it started about five years ago and the most recent incidents was within the last few months. I asked him to explain to me how he came upon these images and he said that he had clicked on links when he was on a website called 'Preteen.'"
She also testified, "My concern is that this is a pervasive issue with him and that it's been going on for a period of time. I don't know how or why he needed to take a thumb drive with child pornography on it to work with him as a pediatrician at U of M Hospital, but it's very concerning."
Pillsbury argued that Jenson was a flight risk because he has no ties to Ann Arbor with the exception of his work at the hospital. She also asked Magistrate Mark Nelson to order that Jenson have no contact with children.
Attorney Daniel Geherin, who represented Jenson for the arraignment only, asked Nelson to release Jenson on a promise to appear. Geherin noted that Jenson has no criminal history and isn't a flight risk. He is originally from Illinois and has family members relatively close by, Geherin said.
If Jenson is convicted, Geherin said, he would likely be facing a term of probation. Jenson is not married and there aren't any children living at his home.
“The offense allegations as I understand them do not include any allegations of creation of images," Geherin said. "They merely suggest that he possessed these materials.”
Nelson released Jenson on a promise to appear with strict bond conditions. Nelson ordered that Jenson have no contact with children, wear a GPS tether, surrender his passport to police and not leave the state without permission.
University officials have acknowledged that the child porn allegation made in May wasn't handled properly and the university is conducting an internal review. Police said there are no allegations that Jenson engaged in improper conduct with patients.
Jenson is scheduled to return to court Feb. 16 for a preliminary hearing.
Listen to portions of Detective Margie Pillsbury's testimony at Jenson's arraignment:
Part One:
Part Two:
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
BhavanaJagat
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 1:10 p.m.
THE MEDICINE THAT SPEAKS : Thanks for that very kind response from aaparent. Thanks for that concern about providing proper medical training to Residents working in the Hospital. I am sure that you understand that we are discussing a problem that involves the issue of medical practice. In Clinical Medicine, each problem associated with human behavior is explained using proper terminology and the understanding of the problem involves the understanding of etilogical factors. In the practice of Medicine, we are not concerned about administrators and supervisors. The practice of Medicine is not about finding legal remedies to human problems. I understand the legal system and the role of law enforcement and other social institutions that we have. I am simply questioning as to why the Medicine is Silent. It is a shame if Medicine remains as a silent and dumb spectator and has nothing to offer in understanding of a problem that involves the sexual behavior of man. I understand food, and sex as the basic drives that influence human action and behavior, and doctors have to learn about eating and sexual behavior. This lack of proper training of doctors is contributing to the societal problems. Apart from sexual conduct, doctors do not know about eating behavior. Just like food cravings, excessive eating, and perverse eating, sexual behavior is a problem of sexual appetite, and gratification of sexual hunger and finding satisfaction and contentment in life. If Medicine remains mute, these problems will not go away and we cannot use the legal system to treat problems of eating or sexual disorders. We need medical interventions to defend all the aspects of man's well-being.
sHa
Sat, Feb 4, 2012 : 3:36 p.m.
The UM's Residency program is certainly not the place to treat any sexual disorders of it's participating physicians. The Residency programs are for those individuals who are already upholding all ethical and professional conduct. Anything less should be dealt with outside of any Residency program. I am not even sure that the propensity toward pedophilia is curable...
aaparent
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 2:23 a.m.
@Bhavana -- Jenson's job was to be a responsible and ethical pediatrician. Possessing child pornography while at work and on U-M computers is not consistent with that goal. His faculty supervisors and the U-M Health system were responsible for ensuring that Dr. Jenson practiced medicine competently and ethically. They failed to do that. The role of technology in society is not relevant. The influences of social media and the internet and images available is not on point. Jenson was not at work to be rehabilitated in mind and spirit. He was there as a medical resident providing care to sick children. His need to look at images of children being harmed for some personal gratification is plain wrong. The U-M's ped/med residency program is not there to heal its residents, but to train them. His faculty supervisors failed their pediatric patients by allowing him to continue to have contact with children in a role where he had power over them. They failed in training him by giving him the idea that it was ok to continue working after the first thumb drive was found.
BhavanaJagat
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 10:41 p.m.
A Balanced View : @ Sam Smith: We need to consider the external influences that impact human behavior. Technology is a conditioning mechanism that operates the choices that we make today. Some years ago, most of us have lived in Ann Arbor without the choice like the use of an external hard drive and thumb drive. People may have sexual cravings but they have lived without the choice of projecting that craving. Jenson is caught up in this use of technology without using restraint mechanisms. I am not able to come to the conclusion that he could be a predator or pedophile. In the last six months it appears that he has the same images on the thumb drive and let us know the other findings from the search warrant that was executed.
Sam Smith
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 11:01 p.m.
@BhavanaJagat You can tell this to the bound and tied child on the bed and the other children in the photos. I used to read your posts with interest. After this with your "balanced view" I lost respect. Anyone who looks at child porn is a pedophile and a predator.
BhavanaJagat
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 6:16 p.m.
Tip of the Iceberg : I would like to read this story in the context of the amount of sexually explicit material that is shared by people on Internet and more recently the mobile devices they use. The technology and the ease with which people can share visual images is a matter of great concern. I have seen several recent reports in news media that deal with the issue of using mobile phone devices to obtain illegal photo images of people while they use restrooms or visting supermarkets. There is this problem of social behavior that has not set any bounds on the use of gadgets for sensual gratification. More often, people are using them for playing games, for entertainment, and other types of amusement and not for developing mature human relationships based upon respect, trust, and dignity of the individual. Stephen Jenson's case is a drop in the bucket full of problems. At a fundamental level, man has to find satisfaction from his living experience by using his spirit to control his intellect, mind, and sense organs that he uses to find gratification for his cravings. I would hesitate to place the burden of the cross across the shoulders of this one person while many among us continue to seek pleasure in dubious ways. The legal system may have realized the reality of our modern existence that only seeks gratification without a sense of restraint.
Sam Smith
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 8:11 p.m.
I don't understand..."to place the burden of the cross across the shoulders of this one person..." are you referring to Jenson here? "burden of the cross..." Wow--I'm at a lose for words which is very rare! "...while many among us continue to seek pleasure in dubious ways" ? Child porn is hardly dubious! It is downright dangerous and sick. I don't understand what in the world you're trying to say. No one is claiming to be perfect or better than another. It's the behaviour and mind set of child porn that is very dangerous and sick. We've got to protect children from these predators. Your post sounds like you're blaming technology and that pedophiles are victims!
Old Salt
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 4:41 p.m.
This makes one wonder just how much "Stuff" is covered up ny the U of M
KMHall
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 12:23 a.m.
...by the U of M? By any large organization? How about the Catholic Church? Covering up is, most likely, going on all the time. Keep reminding people of what their legal obligations are and what the consequences are and we might make a dent in the problem. I'm being optimistic.
15crown00
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 2:41 p.m.
release this perv?are you kidding me? way to cover up mighty U of M. Another A-1 Effort on Your Part
Diane
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 1:29 p.m.
What a SICK-O. A waste of $$$ & brains to go into this profession.
mGill
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 1:11 p.m.
An image can stay on a computer if it is viewed accidentally. That i might give him. However, for it to be on a thumb drive, it has to be manually saved. no accident there
trespass
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 3:30 p.m.
I agree, if the image was a thumbnail and found in the Internet Explorer cache files or the files were deleted, one might have an argument that they were not intentionally downloaded but for the image to be found by another resident it had to be an undeleted file in a file folder. That is not an accidental download.
Smart Logic
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 12:18 p.m.
This looks like another University of Michigan Hush-Hush attempt that fell flat on its face. Every large institution has bad eggs, and the institution should not be defined by them but by how it handles them. While University of Michigan is recognized as a stable employer, employees do get fired. I've seen multiple instances of horrendous employees suing for wrongful termination and the university simply settling for large money instead of fighting. Mind you the legal costs would be a fraction of the settlements in most cases. The regular academic dishonesty is astounding but I've yet to see a student be expelled. Professors are pressured to let the students just retake the exams or redo the work they cheated on, and in only a single instance I've seen was a student actually required to retake the course. Expulsion? Never. The university pays big money to try and maintain a pristine image. I challenge the leadership to just do the right thing and let the university's image develop itself. Many of us would rather see you fight and lose a wrongful termination suit or expel a paying student for cheating than try to cover it up. Bad eggs happen, but how you deal with it defines you.
Smart Logic
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 11:22 p.m.
trespass, that is a small drop in the bucket. I've seen far more instances of that in my handful of years at the university, and they've simply been hushed away.
trespass
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 3:26 p.m.
You must not read all the news stories about students who have been expelled. A nursing student, two engineering grad students, an engineering post-doc, and a dental student. The UM has gone to trial in two of them. They won one and were hit with a $1.7 million verdict in another. If the University had a good grievance process, they would never lose a court case. They lose cases because they don't handle legitimate grievances properly.
Sam Smith
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 12:05 p.m.
Sad but true pedophiles do not change. They are a great danger to society. Jenson brought this child porn to work so he could view it there which speaks volumes about his lack of control. Probation doesn't make sense even if this is a "first offense" because there are uncountable depraved offenses each time he looked at it let alone thought about it. Pedophiles are very sick secretive predators and should be kept away from society.
aaparent
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 4:02 a.m.
Jenson had physician supervisors in charge of his training. Who were those supervisors? What information did they have when they allowed him to go on seeing pediatric patients during this six month period. Jenson was not supervised by the general counsel. He worked under faculty physicians within a department. His supervisors should be under review as part of the U-M investigation.
treetowncartel
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 3:27 a.m.
Just curious, what if the images are photo shopped? Same charges?
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 12:42 a.m.
I'm not a legal expert but just a member of National Association of Photoshop Professionals. It's about "intent" - should someone use image altering software to create the appearance of child pornography: that's illegal. Fake porn is "real porn" for all practical purposes. I know its vague but the presumption must be that, despite there being no real victim(s), pedophiles will be stimulated and then may either commit child sexual abuse or seek "more genuine" sources. Accordingly, possession of such altered images is committing the same crime as that or any "consumer" of illicit materials.
lumberg48108
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 2:48 p.m.
or - what if the images were not teens or kids? The web is full of "fake" sights that have teens or tweens when if you read the legalese its stated they are all actually 18 or older and just playing a role -- are these images illegal? law enforcement has ways to determine the validity - but does the U-M hospital? I am still waiting for the story to unfold before I call for heads to roll and since U-M had no legal obligation, I need to hear more. Ethically? Morally? It seems like common sense to monitor his behavior since he works with children in such a way. This is not the janitor or even some lab tech with limited contact also - I have read that many men that watch child pron have a mental defect (I wont call it a disease) and many or most are not actually molesters ... just strange things to consider long time readers of local news will even recall a reporter having issues for years legally and professionally (porn on his computer) -- since EVERYONE knows that watching even ADULT LEGAL porn at work is grounds for firing think of what is going through their minds that they need to see these images at the risk of loss of job or professional humiliation or even prison -- and yet they do it? They have a defect! Many have wives and kids ... so strange
JustMyOpinion
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 1:53 p.m.
Doubtful, but one would hope. Even a new law becomes difficult legally to craft - would have to have the SC whispering in Congresses ear and require some tremendous skill. So I guess that makes it a 'no' with this Congress.
Kai Petainen
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 3:04 a.m.
for all the grief I've given annarbor.com ..... this work is absolutely amazing. You are working for the well being of the public and not the marketing needs of an agency. Incredible job and folks over there should get a raise. Thank you for this amazing work
lumberg48108
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.
here here --- we, me, are often first to critize so we should be first to compliment. this is a complex case and the subject matter makes it even more difficult good work
donderop
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 2:25 a.m.
Probation? Really? It is a federal crime to knowingly possess, manufacture, distribute, or access with intent to view child pornography (18 U.S.C. ยง2252). In addition, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have laws criminalizing the possession, manufacture, and distribution of child pornography. As a result, a person who violates these laws may face federal and/or state charges.
JustMyOpinion
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 1:56 p.m.
Now you understand why Pedophiles advance to committing violent sexual crimes. We consider porn to be a non violent crime, hence the lighter penalties. Almost all efforts to ratchet up the penalties for these crimes are met with failure - makes you wonder if its the lack of effort or if pedophiles have some constituency.
trespass
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 1:21 a.m.
Even if the UM General Counsel felt that they did not have enough evidence to pursue an investigation (not their call) did the hospital begin monitoring his computer and internet activity at work? This is very easy for the UM computer techs to do. Also, did they take steps to protect his patients, such as making sure that he was not alone with any children? I have not seen anything in the facts that have come out so far that any of these measures were taken. That alone is reason enought to fire someone.
nunya
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 1:08 a.m.
I hope the website "preteen" has been taken down and it's operators apprehended (though they are probably overseas). This sort of thing really hurts the whole "don't sensor the internet" campaign.
sHa
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 12:35 a.m.
I find it incredible that it seems that Dr. Jensen was not at all worried about the incriminating thumb drive in his work bag until the police came to his residence. That he didn't seem to consider that he might be jeopardizing his medical career by carrying it right into the University Hospital Pediatric Department, let alone plugging it into a Hospital computer...
justcurious
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 1:07 a.m.
It is more incredible that his bosses weren't worried about it either.
WalkingJoe
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 12:19 a.m.
Pediatricians and child porn and peeping toms. Are these people ever given psych evaluations?
justcurious
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 12:19 a.m.
Links don't work with Safari I guess.
bhall
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 12:16 a.m.
Anybody else concerned there is a SIX MONTH! delay between the ARRAIGNMENT (Dec. 17) and the REPORTING of what was said at the arraignment (Feb. 1). Hmmm.... Cover up?
julieswhimsies
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 8 p.m.
Duh
treetowncartel
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 2:55 a.m.
You mean 6 weeks?
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 12:02 a.m.
he "....had unintentionally viewed" child porn more than three times, but less than 10 times.... when he was on a website called 'Preteen."
julieswhimsies
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 7:59 p.m.
Sigh. Liar.
halflight
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 2:22 a.m.
You're spot on, Craig. That defense ain't gonna pass the laugh test.
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 12:02 a.m.
what did he think he was going to see?
roll tide
Wed, Feb 1, 2012 : 11:58 p.m.
Mr. Higgins, keep up the good work!
justcurious
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 12:13 a.m.
I just sent an email to him saying the same thing. Excellent job of reporting.
JustMyOpinion
Wed, Feb 1, 2012 : 11:32 p.m.
Can you fix the page for Chrome? It plays both simultaneously at loading and not by request for any.
Linda Peck
Wed, Feb 1, 2012 : 11:41 p.m.
I can pause one or both of them okay, on Chrome.
sHa
Wed, Feb 1, 2012 : 11:27 p.m.
This was a Pediatrician-in-Training at the University Hospital, still working with children every day, SIX MONTHS after the Office of General Counsel made their decision (back in May) that "there was not enough evidence to pursue any investigation", even though the attorneys had a suspect's name and information about a possible crime. Why????????????????????????????
Linda Peck
Wed, Feb 1, 2012 : 11:25 p.m.
I am beginning to suspect the local court system of extreme leniency. Not only this case, but other recent cases come to mind. What can we do about this, citizens? We have a very lenient court system and a very liberal city government. Is there some balance we could create with our votes here? I vote, do you?
julieswhimsies
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 7:55 p.m.
Again. Making every topic a partisan issue. This is about keeping our children safe, and incarcerating predators before they escalate.
alarictoo
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 5:04 p.m.
@halflight - "Another thing that's odd about this case is the relatively few number of images he possessed." I think you are misinterpreting. They say in the article that only three images were found on the thumb drive. However, they say that child pornography was also found on his laptop, and on a separate hard drive. The truth is, according to the information presented here, we cannot speculate on how much child pornography he had. Perhaps the three on his thumb drive were simply his favorites. Sick and sad, but possible.
halflight
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 1:55 a.m.
Linda: The fact that Jenson is out on bail is not a sign of leniency. Bail is basically determined by two factors: 1) Ensuring the defendant's appearance in court; and 2) risk to the public of further criminal acts if the defendant is released prior to trial. The judges (or in this case, the magistrate) don't make bail decisions randomly. A person like Jenson, with a very large stake in a professional career, and facing only probation, is not a large flight risk. He's likely to turn up for trial. If defendants stop showing up for court, then that's evidence that the courts are too lenient with bail conditions. Another thing that's odd about this case is the relatively few number of images he possessed. With that as evidence, the court is likely to find that he's not a high risk for additional offenses, given appropriately strict bail conditions. From the story: "Nelson ordered that Jenson have no contact with children, wear a GPS tether, surrender his passport to police and not leave the state without permission." Given my experience, I'd imagine there's also an order that he not use any computer or internet connected device--and the police already confiscated those things as evidence.
justcurious
Thu, Feb 2, 2012 : 12:12 a.m.
His victims were the little patients he looked at every day while the U of M continued to shield him.
Mick52
Wed, Feb 1, 2012 : 11:59 p.m.
Could be we need a bigger jail so there is space.
average joe
Wed, Feb 1, 2012 : 11:46 p.m.
I suppose the magistrate let him out on a "promise to appear" because there wasn't (at least not identified, as U/M points out) a victim. The truth is of course, there is always a victim in this type of crime.