Bruce Downsbrough the chief operating officer and executive vice president of the University of Tennessee Foundation has been fired from his position with the university following federal child porn charges. He has been accused of downloading and possessing illegal material on a Dell Ultrabook laptop.
The foundation oversees fundraising for the University and is an “at-will” organization, and can, therefore, terminate employment without cause. Current controller for the foundation, Lisa Taylor, will temporarily replace Downsbroug.
Downsbrough was taken into federal custody on Tuesday morning and has since been placed on administrative leave following the four-count indictment. According to a spokeswoman, the University is cooperating fully with the investigation.
The indictment indicated that he twice downloaded child pornography in 2008 and 2012. The indictment also indicates that additional evidence was confiscated from Downsbrough’s home.