Bruce DownsbroughKNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The chief operating officer at the University of Tennessee Foundation has been fired following his arrest on charges of receiving child pornography.
An attorney for Bruce Downsbrough was in court this morning and not immediately available for comment.
The UT Foundation sent Downsbrough a termination letter tosday.
The foundation is UT's fundraising arm. It employs its workers at-will, meaning cause is not needed to fire them.
Downsbrough is charged with downloading child pornography in 2008, 2009 and 2012. Court documents state that federal authorities searched Downsbrough's home in November, finding pornographic images on 19 digital video disks and his computer hard drive.
He was arrested Tuesday and remains in custody pending a Monday hearing.
Downsbrough has been on administrative leave from the foundation.