Toronto

A Humber College teacher with a lengthy journalism career that includes high-profile media and communications jobs faces serious child pornography charges.

Toronto Police say investigators executed a search warrant Monday at a home near Warden Ave. and Kingston Rd. and arrested Gregory William Dennis — allegedly known online as Williegeedee.

Investigators alleged the 59-year-old “accessed, possessed and distributed child sexual abuse material,” Insp. Pauline Gray, of the Sex Crimes Unit, said in a statement issued Tuesday.

Multiple sources confirmed Dennis was a longtime employee at Global TV, where his LinkedIn profile states he worked from 1990 and 2004.

“The news came as a huge shock to everyone at Global TV who knew him and loved him,” said one staffer at the news outlet, who asked to remain anonymous.

In charge of several producers for the feature news department, Dennis was an excellent boss who enjoyed “huge stories and was a great storyteller,” said the source. “He was a fun guy. He was outwardly enthusiastic about his work.”

Police allegedly retrieved pornographic images of prepubescent children from a computer and other electronic devices inside the east-end home that was searched. Investigators continue to pore over the contents of the seized material.

Dennis, a Nova Scotia native and father of two, is charged with two counts of possessing child pornography and one count each of accessing and distributing child porn.

There are no allegations of hands-on child abuse or production of pornography, police sources said.

Dennis, who has no previous criminal record, was released from custody Monday with conditions prohibiting him from possessing weapons, communicating with minors and accessing the Internet or other electronic devices.

The accused was bailed out by his wife of 25 years, Robin Smythe, a former Global reporter who is now an executive producer for the CBC radio show As It Happens.

“Both of them are well-respected and loved at Global,” the source from the news outlet said. “He has kept up many relationships with people at the station, despite leaving many years ago.”

Dennis’ LinkedIn profile shows he previously worked in communications for the Ontario government and currently works at GD Communications while also teaching journalism and public relations at Humber College.

In a statement, the college said it is “deeply disturbed by the situation.”

Dennis is a “contract instructor,” a Humber spokesman explained, adding the college has “taken the necessary steps to ensure that he will not be teaching at the college while the matter is being investigated.”

The accused is due back in court April 25.

ABOUT GREGORY DENNIS

He is described on his LinkedIn profile as a “brand journalist and educator” at GD Communications, with expertise in media/government relations and social media and marketing communications.

The website for GD Communications describes Dennis as a communication professional with a “thorough understanding of today’s traditional and social media landscape.”

IN THE PAST

- Worked at Global TV from 1990 to 2004, first as a reporter, then a producer and later an online newsroom manager.

- Communications director with the Ontario government for five years, from 2007 to 2012.

PRESENT

- Instructor for journalism and public relations at Humber College