‘Big fish’
Police source Klingender a suspected ‘big fish’
Curator nabbed for child porn
OTTAWA — The curator of the Canada Agriculture Museum was suspended Friday after he was arrested on child-porn charges.
Police raided both the modest east-end apartment and the office of Franz Klingender, 59, on Thursday. Sources say child pornography was found at both locations.
Multiple police sources claim Klingender is suspected to be a “big fish” and a “prolific” distributor of child pornography. He’s not suspected of creating the material, just making it available.
Klingender was picked up at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport late Thursday night. He was about to board a flight to England for a business trip.
Yves St-Onge, the museum’s vice-president of public affairs and marketing, calls the allegations troubling.
“This is a national museum,” he said. “We host children and families by the thousands. We are deeply troubled by the criminal allegations. Our prime commitment is to provide a safe environment for our visitors and staff.”
He said police have told him they have no reason to suspect visitors or staff were ever in any danger.
Klingender will continue collect his salary while museum staff begin their own internal investigation.
Klingender’s bio on the museum website claims he has served in his current position for more than 10 years.
“Mr. Klingender is responsible for the museum’s research program and has curated a number of exhibits — both physical and online — dealing with Canada’s agricultural heritage,” the bio reads.
The allegations against Klingender span three years. He faces 16 charges related to possession and distribution of child pornography.
He made a brief court appearance via video Friday afternoon, where his case was rescheduled until Monday.
He is being held in custody.