A former after-school counselor from Pembroke Pines is behind bars facing multiple charges related to the possession of child pornography. Douglas J. Chin, 21, was apprehended Wednesday as part of an investigation led by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. According to NBC Miami, police executed a search warrant at Chin's home, where they discovered numerous explicit materials depicting children.
Employed at the Pembroke Pines Charter Elementary FSU Campus, the embattled part-time counselor has been suspended from his role following his arrest. The material found on Chin’s devices, detailed by authorities, included graphic images and videos of victims between 3 and 14 years old. The school has since begun offering counseling services to students and parents, which is affirmed in a statement obtained by Local 10.
Chin is currently held on a $10,000 bond for each of the 12 charges against him, as mandated by a judge at Thursday's court appearance. The judge additionally barred him from any contact with minors and from possessing devices capable of internet access. If Chin posts a bond, he is required to be monitored by GPS.
While Chin's employment has been quickly addressed, police have not found any evidence suggesting inappropriate contact with any of the students he supervised. "The Pembroke Pines Police Department is committed to protecting all members of our community, especially children," said Capt. Adam Feiner, a Pembroke Pines police spokesperson, in a news release cited by Local 10.
Any additional information regarding the case can be reported to the Pembroke Pines police by contacting Detective Ralph Rienzo at 954-743-1616.
