Ex-assistant Troy band director charged in child porn case

The former assistant band director at Troy Athens High School has been charged with possessing and distributing child pornography and was ordered to remain in federal custody today by a federal magistrate judge.

Eric Junod, a Holly resident, has been linked to an online community of individuals who regularly send and receive child pornography via a website that operates on an anonymous online network, according to the complaint signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Stafford.

Junod appeared in federal court Tuesday.

Junod, who was handcuffed, was escorted into the courtroom by two U.S. Marshals and stated he cannot afford an attorney. He clasped his hands, as the judge explained the charges he is facing. Junod will return to court at 1 p.m. Wednesday for a detention hearing and will remain in federal custody.

The website was a child pornography bulletin board and website dedicated to the advertisement and distribution of child pornography.

Troy school district spokeswoman Kerry Birmingham said Junod is no longer employed at the district. Birmingham said police have told district officials that they don't believe he had any inappropriate contact with Athens students.

"There's no indication that there's any involvement with the students in the Troy district," Birmingham said.

Birmingham said Junod's job was a part-time paid position. Junod's Linkedin states he became the assistant band director in June 2006.

Members of the unnamed pornography website discuss sexually abusing children and "the safety and security of individuals who seek to sexually exploit children online."

On Jan. 26, a user, Viper45, registered with the website, according to the complaint. Under this username, Junod looked at multiple photos, including some of a prepubescent girl being sexually assaulted by a man, the federal complaint alleges.

Armed with a warrant, federal agents search Junod's home on Aug 17. Junod was home at the time and agents seized a number of "media items," according to the complaint, including a laptop computer, an iPhone and an iPad.

More than 600 images of what agents believe was child pornography was found on the devices and Junod acknowledged that he stored it on his iPhone, iPad and laptop computer.

According to the complaint, Junod waived his Miranda rights and admitted to downloading and trading photos more than 100 times. He also admitted to possessing child pornography.

Junod admitted to masturbating to child pornography, including child pornography involving bestiality, incest and bondage.

Junod initially denied that he had sexual contact with any children, but he later admitted he inappropriately touched a little girl when "she was as young as 12 months old," according to the complaint.

He told federal authorities that he started viewing child pornography in 2008 and has engaged in sexually explicit conversations with minor children online.

He also said he sent explicit photos of himself to underage girls and had received photos from them as well, according to the complaint.

Contact Katrease Stafford: kstafford@freepress.com or 313-223-4759.