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Judge closes child-porn hearing to public

Joel StoningtonAspen, CO Colorado
Bradford Moore waits at the Pitkin County Courthouse on Monday afternoon for his turn in court. (Paul Conrad/The Aspen Times)
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ASPEN A court hearing Monday for a former Aspen School District teacher charged with child pornography possession was closed to the public after defense attorneys argued to have the case file sealed. The hearing was on a motion from the defense to supress evidence in the case. Pitkin County District Judge James Boyd also closed future proceedings in the case involving Bradford Moore, who is accused of possessing Internet images of child pornography. The Aspen Times objected to the closure, but Boyd upheld his ruling without explanation.

The case roiled the Aspen School District after the arrest of Moore, a 11-year drama teacher, in November. The school district fired Moore after his arrest. A Denver attorney who specializes in free speech called Boyd’s ruling “a flagrant violation of the First Amendment.””Judicial proceedings have always been open in Colorado unless there is an overwhelming interest in protecting the fair trial rights of the defendant or the privacy interests of a minor victim where those interests can’t be protected in another manner,” said Chris Beall, legal counsel to the Colorado Press Association.

Moore’s lawyer, Saskia Jordan, entered the motion to seal proceedings in early February, and the prosecution agreed. Neither the defense nor the prosecution gave a rationale for sealing the proceedings; Boyd also declined to give a reason.Court documents state that Pitkin County sheriff’s investigators seized Moore’s home computer on Sept. 14. According to the sheriff’s office, the Rocky Mountain Computer Forensic Laboratory later sent Pitkin County investigators disks from Moore’s computer containing 119 still photos, 40 video files, 47 webcam still images and 87 cartoons of child pornography. Moore was released on a personal recognizance bond after he turned himself in to the police in November.



Assistant District attorney Gail Nichols said Moore faces a possible prison sentence of two to six years and a fine of $2,000 to $500,000. If convicted, he would have to register as a sex offender.Joel Stonington’s e-mail address is jstonington@aspentimes.com