Lawrence County reserve deputy fired amid child porn investigation in Springfield

Authorities say a Lawrence County reserve deputy was fired this week following accusations that he had been sharing child pornography online.

Joseph Ferzely, 33, was arrested Wednesday in Springfield on charges of possessing and promoting child porn.

Lawrence County Sheriff Brad Delay said Ferzely worked as a full-time deputy in the jail for about a year in 2018 before leaving for a job in the private sector. Delay said Ferzely stayed on, however, as a reserve deputy and occasionally filled in with the department for events or when other deputies were on vacation.

Delay said Ferzely was also occasionally contracted to do security work for Miller schools.

Delay said the Missouri State Highway Patrol informed him Wednesday it was investigating Ferzely for child porn, and the sheriff acted "immediately" to terminate Ferzely's involvement with the department.

According to court documents, highway patrol investigators discovered in late December a 36-minute video of child porn involving three victims that had been made available on the internet.

Documents say investigators were able to trace the source of the uploaded video back to Ferzely's home in west Springfield.

On Wednesday, the highway patrol executed a search warrant at Ferzely's home and found multiple images and videos of child porn on his computer, according to court documents.

Ferzely allegedly declined to speak with investigators about the case.

Online records indicate Ferzely was released on bond in this case. He does not have an attorney listed.

Ferzely is facing three Class B felony charges, each punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Miller Superintendent Dustin Storm said there are no allegations in Ferzely's case involving Miller students. Here is a statement Storm sent to parents on Friday:

"The Miller R-II School District contracts with the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department to provide security in the Miller R-II School District. It has come to our attention that Officer Joseph Ferzely has been charged with the possession of child pornography. We have been notified by the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department that Officer Ferzely's involvement with the Sheriff's Department has been terminated.

"Officer Ferzely was on our campus at times during the 2019-2020 school year to provide security. The District was notified by the Missouri State Highway Patrol that their initial investigation has not uncovered anything associated with the Miller R-II School District or the District's students.

"The safety of our students is a top priority of the Miller R-II School District and we remain keenly focused on our commitment to provide a quality education in a safe environment for all of our students. If anyone has any additional information in regards to Officer Ferzely, please contact me at the District office or contact the Missouri State Highway Patrol."