A third-grade teacher at Murray Elementary on Fort Stewart was arrested Thursday on allegations of child pornography by the Southeast Georgia Child Exploitation Task Force, Fort Stewart confirmed Friday morning.
Earlier the same day, the GBI announced that Capt. Samuel Oh, 30, who is with the 3rd Infantry Division and stationed at Fort Stewart, had been arrested as part of a statewide investigation into online child-pornography activity. That same investigation swept up the teacher, identified as Dirk Allen Burchard, 34, of Hinesville.
In a letter sent Thursday to parents and employees of Fort Stewart schools, Dr. Samantha Ingram, superintendent of the South Carolina/Fort Stewart Department of Defense Dependents Schools Cuba District, said in part, “Currently, we are not aware of any misconduct involving Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) students. However, starting Friday, October 16, 2015, parents will be contacted personally if they are needed for further assistance in this case.”
Liberrty County Sheriff Steve Sikes released a statement Friday saying that the case involving Burchard was initiated after receiving information from the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office in Elk River, Minnesota, concerning inappropriate contact via the Internet with a child.
Sikes said the Georgia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in cooperation with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command executed an arrest warrant Thursday for Bruchard charging him with possession of child pornography.
That same task force announced the arrest of 18 other individuals, including Oh, in a Thursday news release by the GBI.
Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson confirmed the arrest of the teacher along with confirming that Oh is stationed at the post and is with the 3rd ID.
Jail records indicate that Oh was arrested in August on three counts of computer child exploitation and one count of possession of tools for commission of a crime. Jail records also show that Burchard was charged with violating the Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act, possession and distribution of child pornography, possession of child pornography and possession of tools for commission of a crime.Larson released the following statement:
A Department of Defense Education Activity teacher was arrested for four counts of child pornography by the Southeast Georgia Child Exploitation Task Force in cooperation with installation law enforcement and DODEA school officials here Thursday.
Third Infantry Division and Fort Stewart leadership want to reassure parents, students, and neighboring communities of the installation’s safety following the arrest.
“Our children’s safety is paramount,” said Fort Stewart senior commander Brig. Gen. Jim Blackburn. “We are working closely with our law enforcement and education partners in the investigation and cooperating fully. These alleged actions in no way reflect our Army’s values.”
Teachers, parents, and students have been provided counseling upon their request, said Fort Stewart garrison commander Col. Townley Hedrick.
“Because of the disturbing nature of the alleged crimes and who committed them, we owe our school employees, students, and parents that support,” he said.
A letter, signed by Dr. Samantha Ingram, superintendent of the South Carolina/Fort Stewart Department of Defense Dependents Schools Cuba District, was sent to parenta and employees of Fort Stewart schools Thursday. The letter adds that installation law enforcement and Department of Defense Education Activity school officials cooperated with the task force.
“We are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of our children and are working closely with the authorities in the ongoing investigation,” Ingram wrote. “We want to assure the community that our children are safe, and we will provide further updates as timely as possible without compromising the investigation.”