Tenured UVa drama professor Walter Korte Jr. was arrested on Monday, August 2nd and charged with two counts of possessing child pornography. He is currently being held without bond in Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail.
The arrest comes amid allegations of Korte’s wrongdoing and a formal investigation which began on July 29th. Officers searched Korte’s Bryan Hall office as well as his home on Fosters Branch Road. While the 72 year old professor’s attorney could not be immediately identified, a trial has been scheduled for September 12th.
Korte has made an illustrious career for himself at the University as the Director of Film Studies since 1970 as well as a frequently published author and lecturer. Considered a scholarly authority on Luchino Visconti films and all of Italian cinema, Korte had graduated to a place of reverence within his academic community. He is most well known at UVa for his introductory film course, Cinema as an Art Form.
This next unfortunate chapter in his career will begin, as confirmed by University spokesman Anthony P. de Bruyn, with placement on administrative leave. The University has begun to sever ties with Korte, but will administer accordingly as more condemnable information trickles in. The professor was scheduled to lead two courses this upcoming semester within the Media Studies Department.
