Student charged with possession of child porn leaves school

A student arrested for suspected possession of child pornography has chosen to withdraw from the university, but his campus judicial trial is still pending.

Jonathon Hike, 19, was arrested by Indiana State Police Aug. 16 after a 10-month investigation and was placed under interim suspension from Ball State.

A campus judicial trial will be conducted by a panel of faculty, staff and students appointed by members of Student Government Association.

Mike Gillilan, director of Student Rights and Community Standards, said he is not able to disclose the date of the hearing, and the trial is not open for public viewing.

The judicial review isn't about the criminal charges, Gillilan said. It's about determining if the student has broken the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Gillilan said Monday that it was Hike's decision to no longer be a student.

"Pending the process and ruling, he could come back to Ball State at a later time," Gillilan said.

Even so, the trial will take place while information is still fresh in people's minds.

Monica Reagon, tax warrant clerk at the Delaware County Clerk's Office, said Hike's pre-trial conference has been set for sometime in early October with a trial date set in early January. These dates are subject to change.

Comments