E-mail porn makes its rounds of county center

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2000 | 10:29 a.m.

A pornographic e-mail that circulated through the County Government Center computer system Monday has triggered an administrative investigation.

The sexually explicit photograph that depicted a nude man and woman was brought to County Manager Dale Askew's attention Monday afternoon.

"An employee who received it was offended and brought it to Dale's attention," county spokesman Doug Bradford said. "We'll make sure those involved are disciplined appropriately."

Bradford said it is unknown how many employees received or forwarded the electronic photograph. He said information can easily be retrieved by tracking the e-mail addresses through the system unless the employees made blind copies.

The unsolicited e-mail was received by one employee and then forwarded to others. The county has a strict Internet policy that clearly states sexually explicit materials are not to be downloaded, Bradford said. If they are received involuntarily, they are to be deleted immediately.

"It should not have come into the system, and more importantly it should not have been forwarded," Bradford said. "All those involved will be disciplined in some way."

The employees involved could be suspended without pay, he said.