Brian Burnham entered a plea of not guilty to all charges, on Tuesday morning, during his arraignment hearing on child pornography charges.
Burnham, the 36-year-old former Assistant Scout Master with Boy Scout Troop 845 based out of Carrboro, appeared in federal court in Greensboro facing charges of knowingly receiving child pornography and knowingly distributing and attempting to distribute child pornography.
The investigation began in November 2014 with a cybertip from The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
In the search warrant, an investigator swore that Burnham has not spoken face to face with juveniles about sexual topics: adding that Burnham only talks to the juveniles about these topics via the internet and cell phone.
Burnham’s defense attorneys argue that, however inappropriate some of those messages may be, the ones quoted do not support any inference that Burnham may have committed any sexual crimes against the minor males or attempted to entice any of the minor males to do so.
Burnham was released from jail in mid-February after his bond was posted under several guidelines laid out by the court, including that he would reside with his mother in Matthews, and he would have no access to the internet or cell phones. He also submitted to electronic monitoring.
Burnham has a hearing scheduled for April 6 to discuss any motions or change of plea. His jury trial is slated for April 13.
Related Stories
‹

Carrboro Resident Charged in Child Pornography InvestigationPolice arrested a Carrboro man on Tuesday following a federal investigation into child pornography. Carrboro Police said in a release they charged Nathan Srug Zalman, 69, with 12 counts of second degree exploitation of a minor. The department said they were contacted by the FBI regarding a child pornography investigation and after a review of […]
![]()
New Charge for Carrboro Assistant Boy Scout MasterA new charge has been filed against former Carrboro Boy Scout Troop Assistance Scout Master Brian Burnham. The 36-year-old Former Boy Scout Troop 845 Assistant Scout Master Brian Burnham appeared in federal court in Durham, earlier this month. A new charge was released from the grand jury just this week. Burnham now faces a count […]

29th Annual Carrboro Music Festival Set for Sunday, September 27The Carrboro Music Festival is returning for its 29th year this September. The free event will feature dozens of performers at multiple locations in downtown Carrboro. The festival begins with several kickoff events Saturday, Sep. 26, including an Open Mic event at Carrboro Town Commons from 2 to 4 p.m. Festival merchandise, including pieces signed […]
![]()
Carrboro: Weather Preparedness, Solar Energy Pilot, National Night OutCarrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Friday, July 31, discussing town news and events. She talked about upcoming thunderstorms, hurricane season, and the need to be prepared for bad weather. She also discussed a pilot solar program from the town, planning for National Night Out on Tuesday, and more.
![]()
Carrboro: Rail to Trail Feasibility, Summer Meals for Kids, Summer WeatherCarrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Friday, July 17, discussing town news and events. She discussed a new feasibility study, which includes several opportunities for public feedback. She also highlighted a CHCCS program providing meals for kids over the summer, looked at some other summer events, and more.
![]()
Carrboro: Revisiting Recent Events, Look Ahead to Summer, Chantal One Year LaterCarrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Friday, July 10, discussing town news and events. She discussed the recent string of town-planned events, which included their program of Juneteenth events, Pride Month events, and their annual 4th of July celebration. She also looked ahead to the town's schedule through the traditional down time of late July and early August. She also discussed the lasting impacts of Tropical Storm Chantal, and more.

Neighborhoods Flooded by Chantal Last Year Are Recovering, But Still Feel Storm's ImpactsDuring Tropical Storm Chantal’s floods, 448 homes in Orange County were impacted – with more than half suffering major damage or being destroyed – and around 190 residents displaced.

Celebration of Independence Day to Alter Local Government Services in Orange CountyThe celebration of Independence Day on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 will affect several local government services in and around Orange County. Here’s a look at what typical services will and won’t be happening during the weekend: Town of Chapel Hill All Chapel Hill administrative offices will be closed Friday, July 3, as […]

Drone Shows and Parades: Here's What to Know Before Orange County's July 4 CelebrationsA variety of July 4 festivities are set to take place across Orange County. Here's how local governments are celebrating.

Chapel Hill Man Wins $200,000 Lottery Prize on Scratch-Off TicketKevin Valdez of Chapel Hill won the top prize of $200,000 on a $5 scratch-off ticket, the North Carolina Education Lottery said in a release Wednesday. Valdez bought his lucky ticket for the Cash King game from the Short Stop convenience store on West Main Street in Carrboro. He arrived at lottery headquarters in Raleigh […]
›