Peter Schumacher, Burlington Times-News Photographer (April 25, 2009)
BURLINGTON, N.C. -
4/27 UPDATE: Peter Schumacher is scheduled to appear in court Monday. The Web site of the North Carolina Press Photographers Association lists Schumacher as the chief photographer at the Burlington Times-News and as vice president of the NCPPA.
A Burlington newspaper photographer was arrested Friday evening after taking pictures of children at Western Middle School.
Investigators said Peter Schumacher, 42, a registered sex offender, was on assignment for the Burlington Times-News to cover a story about domestic abuse education.
When he walked through the hallway, Alamance-Burlington Schools spokeswoman Caron Myers said a teacher recognized Schumacher from the online sex offender registry and the school system filed a complaint.
According to the registry, Schumacher was convicted of taking indecent liberties with a child in 2003. The incident took place in 2002. The Times-News executive editor confirmed Schumacher has been employed by the newspaper since 2001.
Schumacher had received permission to got to some places sex offenders aren't generally allowed, but it's unclear if he had permission to go to Western Middle School.
"I just assume in my position that if you're a legitimate news organization you're going to vet your employees. I don't think I should have to do that," Myers said.
"He's a news photographer, it's the last person on earth that I'm going to expect is going to be on a sex offender registry," Myers added. "It's certainly the last person that I'm going to expect a news agency is going to send to a school."
Investigators said they scheduled an interview with Schumacher Friday afternoon. When he didn't show up, officers arrested him.
The Times-News had no comment Friday night about whether they knew Schumacher was a registered sex offender.
A Burlington newspaper photographer was arrested Friday evening after taking pictures of children at Western Middle School.
Investigators said Peter Schumacher, 42, a registered sex offender, was on assignment for the Burlington Times-News to cover a story about domestic abuse education.
When he walked through the hallway, Alamance-Burlington Schools spokeswoman Caron Myers said a teacher recognized Schumacher from the online sex offender registry and the school system filed a complaint.
According to the registry, Schumacher was convicted of taking indecent liberties with a child in 2003. The incident took place in 2002. The Times-News executive editor confirmed Schumacher has been employed by the newspaper since 2001.
Schumacher had received permission to got to some places sex offenders aren't generally allowed, but it's unclear if he had permission to go to Western Middle School.
"I just assume in my position that if you're a legitimate news organization you're going to vet your employees. I don't think I should have to do that," Myers said.
"He's a news photographer, it's the last person on earth that I'm going to expect is going to be on a sex offender registry," Myers added. "It's certainly the last person that I'm going to expect a news agency is going to send to a school."
Investigators said they scheduled an interview with Schumacher Friday afternoon. When he didn't show up, officers arrested him.
The Times-News had no comment Friday night about whether they knew Schumacher was a registered sex offender.
