Ohio Inspector General says BGSU professor accessed and disseminated erotic literature

According to a news release an investigation by the Office of the Ohio Inspector General and the Bowling Green State University Police Department found that Alan Atalah, a professor at BGSU and associate dean for the College of Technology, accessed and disseminated erotic literature using state equipment in violation of university policy.

Authorities say Atalah provided a USB drive containing work performed on a research project and a file containing erotic literature to the Ohio Department of Transportation. A forensic review of Atalah’s state computer revealed additional content of a sexually explicit nature.

The matter was reviewed with an assistant United States Attorney and the Federal Bureau of Investigation supervisor assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and was provided to the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office for consideration.

The initial allegation states that Atalah had been conducting research for ODOT. He provided a USB drive to the agency, amongst the project files was another file unrelated to his work for ODOT. On that file was "seven pages of narrative that described sex acts involving adults, children, and animals."

The original investigation began on September 23, 2015. The Office of the Ohio Inspector General reviewed the matter with the US Attorney and the FBI. Federal authorities determined that the erotic literature does not meet the criteria for criminal charges. The Inspector has ask the Wood County Prosecutor's Office to review the computer forensic report for this matter.

Click on the document to read the complete Report of Investigation.