troyfisher2.jpg
Troy Fisher (center) is flanked by supporters Monday celebrating the dismissal of child pornography charges against him. (Image courtesy Troy Fisher Facebook page)

Child porn charges dismissed against former music teacher

BY Brandi Kruse  on February 25, 2013 @ 2:53 pm (Updated: 5:20 pm - 2/25/13 )

Fourteen charges of child pornography have been dismissed against a former Capital Playhouse Theater interim artistic director, according to The Olympian.

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Christine Schaller ruled that evidence in the case was obtained without a search warrant and therefore inadmissible.

A detective with the Olympia Police Department allegedly recovered the pornographic images on Troy Fisher's computer in July 2012. Fisher had been reported missing by his family and police were called in to look for evidence that could help locate him.

Fisher turned up safe two days later, but the detective continued to search his computer and found the images, which resulted in his arrest.

Fisher was embraced by supporters after the charges were dismissed Monday.

He said he never knowingly downloaded child pornography and looked forward to teaching music to children again in the future.

A spokesperson for the Olympia Police Department said the agency has no immediate plans to release a statement on the ruling.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (24)


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  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Fisher was embraced by supporters after the charges were dismissed Monday
    February 25, 2013 3:46 pm
    He's an "arist" so also a liberal. Apparenlty, downloading child porn is fine w/ the left.....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    totally...
    February 26, 2013 7:06 am
    people on the right never do ANYTHING like that...

    this isn't a left/right exclusive problem. in fact, pretty sure if you took ALL the people charged of this from ALL OVER the country, the conservatives would, most likely, be the biggest group represented.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • vanderleun wrote...
    That's awfully sure
    February 26, 2013 8:12 am
    for a person I'm sure, if you looked at ALL the elements of the soul, is a pervert.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    not sure what you're commenting on...
    February 26, 2013 9:35 am
    me, or hpd.

    i don't know if you're calling either of us a pervert. i do know that neither of us said, nor have ever said anything to my knowledge, anything that sounds perverted on this site. i can't speak for hpd, but i know i don't. i pretty sure "he" doesn't either.

    unless you are referring to the "teacher" charged in the case. if that is the case...i'm inclined to agree, but would rather there be more information.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jstumbo wrote...
    He wants to begin working with children again?
    February 26, 2013 6:14 am
    People were celebrating him getting off? It sounds pretty clear that he had been downloading child porn and got off because of a technicality. How Could anyone let him be around their children? If someone left their child with him, they should be charged with child endangerment. This guy should be added to the sexual offenders list so everyone knows who he is. Otherwise he will just move away, start again and do who knows what to children. Anyone surprised the guy with child porn is the guy working with children?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    How Could anyone let him be around their children?
    February 26, 2013 6:21 am
    Look at the crowd of "supporters". All typical smiling liberals; so naive about the real world. The only one not smiling is the little boy to the right. Perhaps he knows something the former hippies in the pic don't?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    that's the thing that bothers me, too...
    February 26, 2013 7:10 am
    the story doesn't sound like he's innocent.

    yet, people came to support him, even though it's hard for him to sound like he did nothing wrong.

    i'll wait to really hear the rest of this story before i really decide that this guy is clear, or not. but, i'm not hopeful.

    HPD, you sound like a fox news parrot.

    pretty sure there were PLENTY of conservatives who sided with PRIESTS when they were accused of assaulting young boys.

    use your head before you make inane comments. this isn't about right vs left.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Keitho wrote...
    Hey now
    February 26, 2013 6:42 am
    Who are we to judge a persons personal sexual preference. Did we not just learn that we must not only tolerate but govermentally condone and support sexual urges that may be abhorent, immoral and different than ours? 'Wink'
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gabewalker wrote...
    Ummmm...
    February 26, 2013 6:45 am
    I've have never ever unwittingly downloaded child porn or even something that could be described as "images of children between the ages of 10 and 13 engaged in sexually explicit activity" really? Just because it was obtained illegally doesn't mean it wasn't there in the first place... Then Mr. Fisher says the Oly PD was engaged in a "witch hunt,""I'm an innocent man," he hasn't decided to file a lawsuit and the Oly PD made a mistake... Oh they made a mistake alright, the evidence was improperly obtained, but that doesn't mean it did not exist on his computer and that does not mean he is "innocent" of the charges only that the charges will be dismissed...How can his "supporters" comfortably sit there with smiles on their faces and not know this..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    i agree, actually, gabe...
    February 26, 2013 7:14 am
    it doesn't sound good.

    this dude sounds guilty.

    no matter what, he'll have a long road ahead of him to gain any reputation back.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bremerton Voice wrote...
    No one is appalled
    February 26, 2013 7:17 am
    that the police department did an illegal search? Wow I hope when the police have walked all over your rights that you get to read stupid commentaries about how its a political thing, or he only got away with it because he's an artist. Have you people seen the evidence? Try and base an opinion on fact, I know how hard it is for many people giving their opinions on here but c'mon base your opinion on fact, its much better to read.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gabewalker wrote...
    Oh..
    February 26, 2013 7:42 am
    I've been hit heavily with the hammer of the criminal justice system myself, but I don't take kindly to chimo's, chimo's in training, rapo's, molesters, or any other predator on society especially if they work with children which so many of them do... Red flags everywhere... They did an illegal search and WE pay the price now, so yes I'm upset about it.. But, they did come across some very incriminating evidence.. No need to see it, just click on over to the Olympian and read all about it..."images of 10 to 13 year olds engaged in sexually explicit activity" NO one downloads child porn accidentally! I don't care what sicko porn sites you visit..I'd like to see the file it was stored under.. "Sweet_things" And if I was to bet, he went missing because he was out on a meth binge running around with some young boys..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lonestar wrote...
    Steven Powell
    February 26, 2013 8:02 am
    Is banging his head against the wall in his cell.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Tyrone DeVille wrote...
    In Washington State:
    February 26, 2013 8:14 am
    Being an unrepetent pedophile is part of its "Diversity"!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleJack wrote...
    Don't worry, he won't be working with kids.
    February 26, 2013 8:21 am
    No one will ever give him an interview for a job involving contact with children. And there's not a thing he can do about it; employers could come up with a dozen legitimate reasons not to consider him for a position, and it would be practically impossible for him to prove discrimination.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gabewalker wrote...
    don't be to sure about that...
    February 26, 2013 8:44 am
    from the Olympian..."I'm already teaching again," Fisher said Monday...Prior to Monday's hearing, a number of his supporters successfully petitioned the court to ALLOW Fisher to give their children voice lessons so he could continue to work... Are they insane, seriously... The evidence wasn't manufactured it was found on his computer... He went "mysteriously" missing for several days only to show up dehydrated and exhausted at some mini-mart payphone..kiddie porn, putting in 100 hour days, missing time, says tweeker to me..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • circuitfr wrote...
    please
    February 26, 2013 9:05 am
    it isn't like the oly pd busted down his door and searched his computer for no reason. His FAMILY ASKED the police to help them search. I suspect that they found some very disturbing things and decided it was worth looking further into the computer. The problem was they should of got a search warrant after they initial found anything remotely possible of child pornography. If the judge found out a mistake was made, we cannot lawfully charge him. The system worked. However, based of the circumstances, it's 100% impossible for child pornography to show up on your computer. Say it was and he was visiting barely legal pornography sites to get his jollies. Is that still someone who want 18" away from your kids?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • WAmovesRight wrote...
    Tragic
    February 26, 2013 9:08 am
    First of all yes it IS possible for malware to get on your computer that will begin using your PC as a server hosting whatever images the originator desires on your computer without you ever knowing. This was proven in a couple years ago with a DMV employee who was fired & convicted for childr pornography. He was later exonerated when it was proven for an absolute certainty through computer forensics that his computer was infected as described above.

    Secondly, I HOPE TO GOD that this is the case regarding Troy Fisher. If he is a pedophile he'll likely get caught in the future but at what cost?! If he's truly innocent than I feel very sorry for him having to go through this ordeal as there is no more public shame than to be viewed as a pedophile.

    Lastly, this is a tough call because we absolutely must ardently defefnd the 4th amendment and the Olympia police SHOULD have gone the extra mile to see this case investigated properly considering the risk. While well-intentioned, the detective did way more harm than good. If Troy is innocent, OPD tarnished his reputation. If he's guilty, OPD ruined a potential chance at stopping him.

    I'm sure the detective feels bad about it but... man!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    I can't believe a parent would allow this homo close to their child.
    February 26, 2013 9:21 am
    Child Protective Services should get involved if it is true. The parents may even be pimping the kids out. Wouldn't be the first time.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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