Day care worker charged with child pornography

A Hennepin Technical College spokeswoman says a student enrolled in its child development program who's accused of possessing child pornography passed a background check necessary to work in its program for preschoolers.

A criminal complaint accuses 26-year-old Shawn Godfrey of Plymouth of possessing more than 7,600 photos on his computer and more than 170 videos of child pornography.

College spokeswoman Carole Carlson says some photos confiscated by police were taken at the preschool facility. Carlson says Godfrey worked with the 3- to 5-year-old children as part of the college's child development curriculum, but left the school last November.

She says the college sent a letter Wednesday to parents of the preschoolers enrolled urging them to contact the school or police with any questions.

Godfrey did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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