The family-run Pixieland Amusement Park says it had no warning signs suggesting an employee, the son of one of the park’s owners, was involved with child pornography before his Wednesday arrest.
In a statement released by their attorney, the park’s managers described the arrest of 33-year-old Concord resident Christopher Michael Hull as “completely unforeseen.” It also said park employees are trained to identify behavior that could reveal child predators.
“Family or not, had there ever been any indication of inappropriate behavior, he would have been immediately discharged and turned over to authorities,” said owner Cynthia Brumley in the statement. “Nobody saw this coming.”
Hull was arrested Wednesday at Pixieland Amusement Park after authorities linked him to the illicit material found when a search warrant was served at his Cordova Way apartment. He was booked into County Jail in Martinez and was being held on $20,000 bail.
The search was conducted by officers from Walnut Creek, Concord, San Ramon, Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, Richmond and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, under the auspices of the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children task force.
Walnut Creek police Sgt. Jay Hill said so far there is nothing to suggest Hull’s alleged activities extended to the amusement park.
Hull did not have access to computer equipment at Pixieland, and since he started working there in 2008, had not drawn any complaints about his behavior, the statement said. Before his arrest Wednesday, Hull had no criminal history in Contra Costa County, court records show.
The park statement added, “Thanks to the diligent work of police investigators, and through their resources, they were able to uncover this illegal activity that we were unable to uncover.”
At least one resident of Hull’s apartment complex said Hull was occasionally seen at the pool but that he generally kept to himself.
A group identifying itself as The Bay Area Moms Club emailed Concord government officials and council members Thursday, urging the temporary revocation of the city’s contract with the amusement park until the investigation is complete.
Anyone with information about the case can contact Martinez police Sgt. Dave Mathers at 925-472-9727.
Staff writer Rick Hurd contributed to this story. Contact Robert Salonga at 925-943-8013. Follow him at Twitter.com/robertsalonga.
