Benjamin Kramer, 21, a former University of Nebraska Medical Center campus security officer, was released under strict conditions after appearing in federal court in Omaha on Monday on a charge of possessing child sexual abuse material. KETV reported that he was arrested the previous Thursday after authorities were notified of a tip submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: KETV.
UNMC confirmed to KETV that Kramer had worked as a campus security officer. The university said it is cooperating with law enforcement but did not say whether he had access to patients during his employment.
Court Weighs Custody Request
Prosecutors asked the court to keep Kramer in custody, citing a journal entry found during a search of his home under a warrant, KETV reported. Prosecutors argued that the writing showed he had expressed thoughts of self-harm and suicide and posed a danger to himself and others.
Judge Nelson said some of the writings were concerning, according to the report. Kramer was nevertheless released with conditions.
Release Conditions Bar Contact With Children, Internet Use
The conditions prohibit Kramer from contacting children or accessing the internet. He must also wear electronic monitoring and observe a curfew, KETV reported.
Kramer had four guns in his possession before his arrest; authorities have since removed them, according to the same KETV report. No information on the case's future court schedule, plea, or outcome has been reported.
Federal Sentencing Context
National sentencing outcomes vary, but the figures do not predict the result in Kramer’s pending case. The United States Sentencing Commission reported that in fiscal year 2019, 30.0% of people sentenced for non-production child pornography offenses received a sentence within the guideline range, while 59.0% received a variance below it.
