A veteran Barry University law professor is in the Orange County jail after court records revealed a slew of felony charges related to child sexual abuse material. Glen Peter Ahlers, 70, faces 50 charges of unauthorized possession of materials portraying sexual performance by a juvenile. He is being jailed without bond while detectives and Barry University work through the situation.
Arrest And University Response
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According to jail documents examined by ClickOrlando, Ahlers was jailed on 50 counts and is still in county custody. In a statement included in the report, Barry University stated that the faculty member “has been placed on immediate administrative leave pending further review” and that the institution is working with law enforcement. Officials have revealed little information on how the case came together or what they believe they discovered.
Professor’s Career And Law School Role
According to Barry University’s online faculty directory, Glen Peter Ahlers is a law professor with extensive experience in law librarianship, legal education, and administrative positions. The profile also states that he has retired bar licenses in Kansas and Washington, D.C., and it lists his publications and courses taught at the Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law. That institutional listing corresponds to the affiliation indicated in the booking record.
Charges And Potential Penalties
Florida law considers unlawful possession of materials depicting a minor engaged in a sexual act to be a serious offense, and prosecutors may regard each image as a distinct count. Possession of substantial collections might result in reclassification and harsher punishment exposure under state law. Under section 827.071 and related provisions, the offense is normally charged as a third-degree felony. Possession of 10 or more pictures can trigger an upward reclassification, increasing the potential prison term, according to the Florida Senate. Any decision to seek reclassification, as well as the number of counts finally filed by prosecutors, would have a significant impact on Ahlers’ potential sentence if convicted.
What Comes Next In Court
In Orange County, those who are arrested usually make their first appearance at the county Booking and Release Center. According to Orange County Corrections, the documents identifying Ahlers were confirmed through the public inmate database, which contains current bookings, charges, and bail status. The State Attorney’s Office is responsible for determining which charges to formally file and setting the court schedule, and any grand jury action or arraignment documents will be made public once they are presented to the clerk.
Aside from the booking details and Barry University’s notice that the professor is on administrative leave, local officials have not publicly stated how the inquiry began or which agency took the lead. According to ClickOrlando, Barry University is collaborating with law authorities, and the faculty member was promptly placed on leave, but neither the school nor the police have issued a public statement. This item will be updated if court filings, charging documents, and new statements become available.
