Former Brite Divinity Professor Sentenced 10 Years Federal Prison Child Pornography

Charles Kilby Bellinger, a former theology professor and librarian at Brite Divinity School on the Texas Christian University campus, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography. Bellinger was arrested in October 2024 after TCU IT staff discovered sexually explicit images of infants and toddlers on his work computer, and subsequent investigations found additional illicit materials on devices from his office. He pleaded guilty in January 2025 and was sentenced to 121 months in prison, ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution, and taken into custody immediately. Bellinger attempted to conceal his activities using a VPN and other methods, but his defense argued these efforts were intended to evade detection by colleagues, not law enforcement. Brite Divinity School, which is separate from TCU but shares the campus, terminated Bellinger's employment following an internal investigation and condemned his actions as repugnant and against their values. Authorities including the U.S. Secret Service and local police participated in the investigation, highlighting the serious nature of the case.