CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT; OFFICIAL OUSTED OVER CHILD PORN.

Byline: THE NEW MEXICAN 

Deputy director allegedly admits to possessing, distributing material

'for many years'

The New Mexican

The state Children, Youth and Families Department began termination proceedings Wednesday against a deputy director who allegedly admitted to possessing and distributing child pornography "for many years," according to court documents and a spokeswoman.

Mark Edwards -- who has worked for CYFD for most of the 19 years he has worked for New Mexico state government -- was placed on administrative leave with pay Tuesday, and was served with the notice about termination proceedings Wednesday, said Romaine Serna, CYFD spokeswoman.

Until Tuesday, Edwards served as the deputy director of the agency's Youth and Family Services Division, where he made $95,000 a year, Serna said.

Edwards has not been arrested or charged. The state Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began investigating Edwards in January, when it received information that Edwards, an America Online subscriber, might be distributing child pornography, according to a search warrant filed last week in state District Court. Investigators hope to wrap up their investigation in the near future, said Phil Sisneros, attorney general spokesman.

Edwards allowed an investigator for the task force into his Tierra Contenta home to search his laptop computer and external hard drive on Oct. 6 for child pornography, the warrant says. The hard drive yielded 25 files of "children exposing their genital area and some were engaged in sexual acts with others," the warrant says. A child in one of the pictures appears to be 3 years old, while another file depicts two children who appear to be under 5 years old, the warrant states.

"Mark Edwards admitted to possessing, receiving and distributing child pornography for many years," the warrant says.

Investigators seized the hard drive, the laptop, CDs, a data card and 16 pieces of notepad paper with notes, according to the warrant.

Serna said Edwards' responsibilities as deputy director included budgets, contracts and personnel. He did not deal with children in his most recent job, though he served at one point in his career as a juvenile probation officer for CYFD, she said.

"I can guarantee that no one who came into contact with him (at CYFD) would think he'd be accused of these kind of allegations," Serna said. "(But) Secretary (Dorian) Dodson has been so deliberate and strong in her position that CYFD won't tolerate any unethical, illegal or immoral behavior (by employees). That's why we're pursuing termination."

The agency also is checking Edwards' computer at work, she said.

Attempts to reach Edwards on Wednesday were unsuccessful.