INDIANAPOLIS — A former Butler University philosophy professor has been terminated after he was arrested on child pornography possession charges.
Tiberiu Popa was arrested Friday and charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography.
“We are deeply disturbed by these allegations of such an abhorrent crime,” a Butler spokesperson said in a statement. “Popa is no longer employed at Butler University.”
Butler officials do not believe the inappropriate conduct happened with any minors or students while Popa was on campus, the spokesperson said.
A probable cause affidavit says an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department detective received a tip on Friday from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The organization said Adobe Systems Incorporated reported that someone with Popa’s Butler email address had uploaded 24 files of suspected child pornography on Jan. 19.
In an interview with the detective, “Popa eventually admitted to viewing child sexual abuse material on his laptop, but claimed he never saved the images on his laptop computer,” according to the affidavit.
The Butler University Police Department is assisting IMPD, which is leading the investigation.
-
Start of the 2025 Indiana apple season
In the heat of the summer, fall festivities may be the last thing on your mind. This week, several orchards across Indiana have their first apples of the season ready to go.Downtown Indy Inc. launches survey to gather community perceptions
Your perception of downtown Indianapolis could vary depending on your experience. Now, Downtown Indy Inc. wants to hear from you about what you think of the downtown area.Tariffs could fizzle Fourth of July firework celebrations
Ongoing tariffs on Chinese imports could dim these celebrations, affecting both prices and availability for consumers and local businesses alike.Hundreds of American flags in Lawrence honor veterans for Independence Day
The Field of Honor outside of the Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame in Lawrence pays tribute to veterans for Independence Day.