Sheriff’s Office heading investigation of Chico State professor, Laird Easton

He was arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography

CHICO » Contrary to a statement issued Sunday by the university’s communications team, the Chico State history professor who was arrested and later booked at the Butte County Jail last week on suspicion of child pornography possession is not currently being investigated by the Butte County District Attorney’s Office, District Attorney Mike Ramsey confirmed to this newspaper.

Laird Easton, 64, a history professor at the university, was arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography and was booked into the Butte County Jail on the afternoon of Jan. 21 before being released on bond later that evening, according to booking logs.

Chico State issued a statement on Sunday to local media outlets which stated, in part, that the Butte County District Attorney’s office charged Easton, 64, in a child pornography investigation and the university was cooperating with the investigation. The DA’s office, however, said that isn’t true.

Ramsey said his office’s only affiliation with Easton’s arrest was approving a warrant, which was also signed by a judge, that allowed the Butte County Sheriff’s Office to arrest Easton at his home, located in the 1900 block of Citrus Avenue in Chico, as well as serve search warrants on Easton’s electronic devices at his home and office, located on the university campus.

According to press release from the Sheriff’s Office, detectives began investigating Easton this month and found evidence indicating Easton was downloading child pornography.

While serving the search warrants, detectives seized Easton’s cell phone and multiple electronic devices belonging to him. Detectives are currently in the process of conducting forensic searches of Easton’s electronic devices. While looking at the cell phone, detectives said they found more than 100 images of child pornography, and allege Easton was responsible for downloading the images.

An investigation from the DA’s office could be forthcoming depending on what evidence the Sheriff’s Office gathers, but at this juncture, the Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation, Ramsey said. A tentative date for Easton’s arraignment is scheduled for April 9 at the Butte County Superior Court, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

“The Sheriff’s Office will, in due course, give us their reports, which we then will look over and see if there’s sufficient evidence to determine if (Easton) did possess this child porn,” Ramsey said in a phone interview Monday.

Chico State’s statement issued on Sunday also confirmed that Easton is “suspended from teaching and campus activities until further notice.” Easton’s biography appeared on the Chico State history department’s faculty and staff page Monday afternoon.

Messages sent to Easton’s university email address return an automated message which states, “Dr. Easton is on leave,” and directs people to contact the history department chair with questions pertaining to classes.