UWM faculty member arrested for child porn

MILWAUKEE -- A UW-Milwaukee lecturer has been arrested on child pornography charges, marking the second arrest of a faculty member in a month.

Court records say 54-year-old Dennis Tomashek from St. Francis was charged with five counts of possessing child pornography.

According to UWM's website, he works in the College of Health Sciences as a lecturer and researcher.

It's unclear when the incidents occurred or if they took place on campus.

UWM acknowledges the charges and said in a statement, "The matter is being investigated, and appropriate personnel action is being taken."

It comes just weeks after Professor Anthony Azenabor, another faculty member in the College of Health Sciences, was arrested on multiple counts of sexual assault.

He remains banned from campus by a court order, and the school continues to evaluate his future employment.

Students, including Fotoula Lagalbo, were just getting back from spring break when they learned the news.

"It's two people in the matter of one month. I think that's concerning," Fotoula said. "I kind of feel frightened honestly."

Her dad, Anthony, drove her to campus to finish out the school year.

"It's hard enough to go to school and study and really put 100 percent into it without this as being a distraction," he said.

Hanna Noyce was also on edge, as a student in the College of Health Sciences.

"It's hard to know who you can trust nowadays," she said.

So far students say they haven't been notified by their school.

"It definitely would make us all feel safer if we knew when something like this happens," student, Alex Falk said.

They just want some answers.

"It kind of makes me think what else are they not telling us?" Fotoula said.

It's unclear whether Tomashek was a lecturer at UWM this semester.

His first court appearance is Wednesday.