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Parents Outraged At Preschool Over Child Porn Suspect

DENVER (CBS4) - Outraged parents are demanding answers from a Denver preschool. They want to know what the school knew about teacher David Moe, who's accused of having child pornography.

Moe is facing federal charges and is in jail.

The school is located at 13th and Quebec in East Denver. A meeting was held on Friday so administrators could address parent concerns about the investigation, but most parents left the meeting with more questions than answers.

Parents say they're angry and frustrated with the school for the way they handled the situation and believe they haven't been forthright about Moe.

Moe was arrested last week and charged with distribution and possession of child pornography. He was a preschool teacher at Paddington Station for the last 18 years. The school has said that no adult is permitted to be alone with a child and that there's no indication any wrongdoing occurred with Paddington students.

Some parents say they know their child was alone with Moe and believe the school should be taking a more proactive approach to the case. The U.S. Attorney's Office also says it's too soon to say that Paddington children are definitely not in the pictures as investigators are sorting through a mountain of photographic evidence.

Attorney Shelley Thompson, who is representing three current or former Paddington families, says a top administrator at the school is close friends with Moe's family. Moe was investigated on a charge on inappropriate contact with a child at the school around a decade ago, but nothing was proven, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Thompson says the school received a number of complaints about Moe over the years and doesn't know if they were properly addressed. She and the families could evaluate civil claims against the school down the road. She says the school hasn't released info they may have on Moe.

"At this time we have no indication that any wrongdoing occurred on school grounds or with any Paddington students," a statement on the Paddington Station website said.

School spokesperson George Merritt said the meeting was to answer questions and make as much information available as possible. In an email that went out to parents this week, they said, "We don't have all the answers, and we share the same concerns and frustrations that many of you have expressed throughout this difficult week. But we are hopeful that we can begin to answer some of your questions and provide this community with experts and counselors to help you talk to your children."

"First and foremost, please know we share your feelings of frustration, anger, and sadness about David Moe's actions. As Paddington Station alums, we are feeling the same concerns and asking the same questions as you are. Since last Thursday we have worked to address as many of the immediate issues as possible to ensure the health and safety of our children and families," board members Nicholas Kemp and Betsy Crane said.

Parents say their children were alone with Moe, who ran the before and after-school care programs since 2005.

A bond hearing for Moe is set for next Tuesday. Prosecution will be asking for him to be held without bond pending the outcome of the case.

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