Winsted man charged with possession of child porn

WINSTED — A Winsted resident who teaches middle school and works with children’s recreation programs was arrested on child pornography charges last week. The Winchester Police Department arrested Damon Papp, 41, on Wednesday, May 4, at his home on 149 Pratt St. and charged him with possession of child pornography in the first degree.According to a statement issued by Police Chief Robert Scannell, Papp was arrested after a three-month-long investigation by officers from both Winchester and Watertown police departments affiliated with the Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC) Task Force.Papp was arraigned in Bantam Court and held on $250,000 bond. He was reportedly placed on suicide watch while in custody prior to his court appearance.Scannell said that the case against Papp is ongoing and would not give further details.According to the state’s judicial branch website, Papp had not been released from custody as of Monday, May 9.His next court date is scheduled to be Tuesday, May 17, at 9:30 a.m. at Litchfield Superior Court.The judicial branch website also lists a divorce hearing between Papp and his wife, Heather Papp, which was last updated on March 29.Papp has been working as a teacher at Eli Terry Jr. Middle School in Terryville. As of Monday, his Web page is still on the school’s website. Papp was also serving as an esteemed leading knight at the Winsted Elks Lodge and was last year’s program supervisor for the Summer Playground and Adventure program in Torrington.