Classics Professor Andrew Dyck was sentenced to six months in
Ventura County Jail on Thursday, concluding an incident dating back
nearly a year and half ago.
After originally pleading not guilty in December, Dyck pleaded
guilty on March 24 to one felony count of sending harmful matter
over the Internet with the intent to seduce a minor and one count
of attempting to do so.
If he hadn’t pleaded guilty, Dyck could have faced up to
four years in prison if convicted.
Under the circumstances of the case, Dyck felt the judge’s
offer was the most expedient way of resolving the case, said
Dyck’s attorney, Donald Etra.
Etra added that Dyck still hopes to work for UCLA in the future,
and is negotiating with the university.
Dyck was placed on administrative leave with pay in April.
His status is still pending review by the university and the
Academic Senate, said university spokesman Harlan Lebo. He added
that Dyck is still on administrative leave.
After his six-month jail sentence, Dyck will be on probation for
five years.
In December 2002, Dyck was investigated for allegedly sending
pornographic material to a 13-year-old Simi Valley girl who he
first met in a non-pornographic chat room.
In the months after, police posed as the victim and continued
correspondence with the professor, receiving additional
pornographic images.
After being informed of the investigation, Dyck, 56, turned
himself in to police and was arrested in October 2003.
It should be emphasized that Professor Dyck never had any
intention to meet the girl in person, Etra said. Etra added that
cyberspace presents the potential for doing great good, but can
also be a means for people get themselves into trouble.
Robert Gurval, chairman of the classics department, said losing
Dyck hurts the program, adding that Dyck was a popular professor.
Gurval said after Dyck was put on leave the department had to
cancel a graduate-level course he was scheduled to teach.
“He is a distinguished scholar and an authority on the
philosophical work of the Roman order of Cicero,” Gurval
said.
Dyck has taught at UCLA since 1978, and served as classics
department chairman from 1988 to 1991.
The professor has been married for over 25 years and has no
children. He will report to jail sometime this summer.