Joseph Curtis will not serve as a social worker under terms of an agreement reached with the Iowa Board of Social Work Examiners. Curtis reached the agreement to surrender his license after authorities found pornographic images of children engaged in sexual acts, as well as photos of Curtis engaged in sexual acts with his dog, stored on his home computer.

The photos were discovered when Curtis took his laptop computer for repairs in Coralville. The repair workers notified Coralville police, who executed search warrants in April of 2006 to seek access to his home computer. Charges have not yet been filed.

The examiners board says Curtis' home computer "included numerous photos of young male boys posing nude or semi-nude or performing sex acts." Other photos included Curtis "in the act of masturbating his dog."

The computers also had archived conversations between Curtis and others on the Internet in which he described himself as a "master" who engaged in sadomasochistic activities.

Bedford said computer evidence poses unique challenges for investigators. Authorities must prove that the evidence is what it appears to be, a task made increasingly difficult as digital manipulation becomes easier for even casual computer users.

Local, state and federal authorities are also involved in the case. That raises questions about who will file charges, if any are eventually filed. Bedford said his officers continue to work with federal and state authorities in the case.

Curtis will surrender his license at a hearing April 23. License forfeiture has the same effect as revocation in Iowa. The agreement states Curtis is not allowed to provide services to minors prior to revocation.

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