Fort Lauderdale college professor and camp counselor arrested on child pornography charges – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

Lina Portman1 week ago

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NEAR FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) — A Broward County middle school teacher has been arrested on child pornography charges.

Quinton Womack Wedlaw was arrested Tuesday by Broward Sheriff's Office deputies while working as a counselor at a summer camp.

The suspect, aged 25, appeared before a judge on Wednesday.

“There are 10 counts, all identical,” the judge said, reading out the charges of possession of child pornography he faces.

According to the arrest report, Womack Wedlaw was a teacher at Parkway Middle School in Fort Lauderdale. This summer, he worked as a counselor at Reverend Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park, also in Fort Lauderdale.

Broward County officials said Womack Wedlaw has since been fired from his position as a camp counselor.

BSO investigators said they were informed by Google that the suspect had inappropriate images in his account.

The arrest report states he was in possession of multiple cell phones and more than 25 videos depicting child pornography were located on various devices.

Broward County Public Schools released a statement:

“The district and school administration are aware of this individual’s arrest. Due to summer vacation, he is not currently working at school. For the upcoming school year, he will be reassigned away from the school and students pending the outcome of the case.

BCPS

Parents at the summer camp he worked for said they knew him and were shocked to hear the news.

“I mean, yeah, of course, it’s scary,” said one woman who was picking up her children. “He was friendly, but I never, you know, got any bad vibes or anything from him.”

In court Wednesday, prosecutors practically begged the judge to keep Womack Wedlaw in prison.

“The reason I am requesting higher bonds in this case is because I believe this case is greatly aggravated, given Mr. Womack Wedlaw's employment,” a prosecutor said.

The suspect's lawyer argued that since this was his client's first arrest, the judge should have been lenient, but prosecutors pushed harder.

“Given the fact that he chose professions where he is surrounded by children and the allegations contained in these reports,” said a prosecutor.

The judge acknowledged that the arresting deputies could have charged Womack Wedlaw with more.

“There were other alleged items,” she said.

He was given $200,000 bail and will remain behind bars until he posts it. He was ordered not to set foot on any school campus or go to any park or camp frequented by children. He must also have no contact with minors and no access to the internet.