Director of career center arrested

Russell A. Bruch, Director of the CSUS Career Center, was arrested Friday in Davis on suspicion of sending sexually explicit e-mails to a minor.

Bruch, 58, was arrested after a three-week investigation that began after a "state-mandated reporter" informed police of the correspondence, which had started innocently, but then allegedly turned toward sexual topics, requests for information and suggestions. State-mandated reporters include teachers, firemen, police and school counselors.

The 16-year-old Davis high school student was communicating with Bruch about assistance in a drama production when she became concerned by the increasingly sexual nature of the e-mails.

When the police were contacted, they reviewed the e-mail for possible law violations.

"It was a gray area," said Davis police lieutenant Steven Pierce. "Then the volume and sexually explicit descriptions increased."

Under guidance of the region's High Tech task force, Davis police posed as the girl, responding to Bruch's letters until the suspect made arrangements to meet the girl in an apartment.

When Bruch arrived at the apartment, he was arrested. After being read his Miranda rights, he confessed, according to Davis police.

According to police, Bruch was carrying condoms and a nude photograph of himself when he was arrested.

Search warrants were carried out at Bruch's Davis home and office in Lassen Hall. Computers were seized from both locations. Davis police served both warrants shortly after the 5:45 p.m. arrest. Pierce said a detective from the CSUS police department was in attendance for the Lassen Hall search.

"E-mails were sent from both his home and office," said Pierce. "One of our concerns is that this was done before. He archived his e-mails, which, if he's done this before, will help us."

Pierce said that some of the e-mail had been sent from the CSUS Skynet system, a network used by faculty, staff, and administrators for records and Internet access.

According to Davis police, Bruch was aware that the girl was under 18 and a high school student because he knew the girl prior to the e-mail communication.

Pierce said the girl e-mailed Bruch initially to see if he was going to audition for the male lead in a community theater production. The girl was evidently concerned with landing the female lead next to a shorter male lead. The two conversed about the upcoming production at first, then moved to other topics, Pierce said. She told a friend after the e-mails took a more personal nature. Word eventually made its way to a state-mandated reporter who contacted Davis police.

"By law, they must report suspected child abuse, even though they may not have proof," Pierce said.

Bruch was arrested for attempted statutory rape, attempted oral copulation, burglary, and sending harmful matter with the intent of seduction of a minor. All four charges are felonies.

Pierce said the burglary charge is standard in law enforcement since it covers commision or attempted commission of petty and grand larceny. Statutory rape, sexual intercourse with a minor, constitutes grand larceny. The attempted oral copulation charge stemmed from the content of the e-mail Bruch sent, Pierce said.

Pierce said the suggestion to meet came from Bruch. Davis police suggested the apartment since it was not connected with the girl.

"We wanted to confirm who he is," Pierce said. "That's why we met with him."

Bruch has been employed at CSUS for the last 10 years, primarily in the Career Center, said David Wagner, dean of Faculty and Staff Affairs.

"He has been placed on administrative leave, pending our ability to review the evidence," said Wagner, who added that the campus becomes concerned whenever state resources are used inappropriately. "At this time, we're not privy to the full police investigation file and without such, we cannot draw any conclusions," he said.

Arraignment was scheduled for Tuesday in Yolo County court. Bruch is free on $20,000 bail.

Pierce said additional charges might be filed in the case as investigators search through Bruch's e-mail archives.