Former Brush Schools employee arrested on cybercrime charges – The Fort Morgan Times

A former Brush School District employee was arrested this week on suspicion of cybercrime.

The Brush Police Department said in a recent press release that it has been investigating for seven months a Jan. 2 district report about Scott Trautwein of Fort Morgan. Trautwein, the press release said, was “relieved of his position after it was determined that he had used his current role to gain access to the personal social media accounts of other school district employees and former students.”

Police, in conjunction with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), conducted an investigation to identify all potential victims and pursue the case further. Nine victims expressed a desire to pursue legal action. The investigation revealed that there was no other serious content on the computer used in the crime. An arrest warrant was requested charging Trautwein with nine counts of cybercrime and two counts of criminal invasion of privacy.

The BPD posted on Facebook on August 16: “(Trautwein) has been taken into custody. If you have any questions, please contact police at 970-842-5074.”

In response to this incident, the Brush School District has implemented several cybersecurity measures to protect staff and student data, according to the police department. These measures include mandatory password changes, redistributing administration of critical systems to prevent unilateral control, and enhanced monitoring of video surveillance logs to ensure transparency.

The press release stated that the district headquarters was instrumental in communicating the potential victims' desire for prosecution to proceed. The Brush School District is committed to protecting its community and has taken additional steps to protect staff and students from cyber threats and maintain a safe environment.

The Morgan County Times reached out to Brush police, who were unable to provide further comment.

Originally published: August 17, 2024 at 9:19 am