CSU professor faces new molestation charges

SAN FRANCISCO -- A California State University, East Bay professor arrested at San Francisco International Airport last week on suspicion of possessing child pornography is also accused of sex crimes against a 13-month-old girl in Missouri, authorities announced today.

St. Louis County police announced that the county Prosecuting Attorney's Office has filed charges of statutory rape, statutory sodomy and promoting child pornography against Kenneth Kyle, 47, of San Francisco, for the alleged crimes in Ballwin, Mo.

Police say Kyle, an assistant professor in the department of public affairs and administration at CSUEB, came in contact with 20-year-old Tessa L. Vanvlerah, of Ballwin, via the Internet and traveled to meet her and her 13-month-old daughter.

Vanvlerah, who was also arrested and is in St. Louis County Jail, is facing charges of statutory rape, statutory sodomy, promoting child pornography and incest.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and St. Louis County detectives led the investigation that resulted in the warrants for Kyle and Vanvlerah. A $2 million cash-only bond was issued for them.

The child has been placed in state custody.

Kyle was initially arrested at SFO on March 15 as he returned from a trip to Austria.

That arrest followed an FBI monitoring operation based in Virginia in December, when file sharing of graphic images of sexual abuse of young children was traced to Kyle's home computer, according to San Francisco district attorney spokesman Brian Buckelew.

San Francisco prosecutors have charged Kyle with two felony counts, possession of child pornography and child exploitation, according to Buckelew.

Kyle, who had initially been set free after posting $55,000 bail, appeared in San Francisco Superior Court with his attorney on March 19 and his arraignment was postponed until today.

However, he is currently in federal custody for allegedly transporting child pornography over state lines and internationally, Buckelew said.

Because he is in federal custody, he did not show up at his arraignment today and a Superior Court judge issued a no-bail bench warrant for his arrest.

Buckelew said it is possible that all the charges against Kyle will be consolidated in a federal case.

According to his biography on CSUEB's Web site, Kyle has researched and taught social sciences and community psychology, and has published a book on homelessness. His current research includes critical literary theory, feminism and Marxism.

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