Former Northbridge School Committee Member, Part-Time Teacher, and Boy Scout Leader Charged with Possessing Child Pornography and Enticing Children

BOSTON—A Whitinsville lawyer, who is also a Boy Scout leader and part-time middle school teacher, was arrested at his home this morning, charged with possessing child pornography and enticing children.

Andrew J. Myers, 34, has been charged by complaint with possession of child pornography and use of the Internet to entice minors to engage in unlawful sexual activity. He will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston today for an initial appearance, at 3:00 p.m., before Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal.

According to the affidavit, the investigation was initiated when law enforcement officials from the Larimer County (Colorado) Sheriff’s Office contacted the Northbridge, Massachusetts Police Department regarding an ongoing child exploitation investigation. The Colorado authorities were investigating a complaint from a Colorado mother who reported that her 12-year-old son had been communicating via e-mail and Skype with a male who identified himself as 33-years-old. In those communications, the 33-year-old male attempted to entice the boy to engage in sexual acts over Skype (a web streaming video service). The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office later identified the 33-year-old male as Myers and solicited the assistance of the Northbridge Police Department.

It is alleged that Myers has communicated via e-mail with at least three individuals suspected to be minor males. In these e-mails Myers offers to perform sexual acts on the boys. The investigation also revealed that Myers has received e-mails containing images depicting prepubescent boys exposing their genitals.

According to the affidavit, Myers has worked as a substitute teacher and is presently the Scout Master of a local Boy Scout Troop. Myers is also a former member of the Northbridge School Committee.

If convicted, Myers faces not less than 10 years and up to life in prison on the enticement charge and up to 10 years on the possession of child pornography charge. Both charges carry five years to a lifetime of supervised release.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Boston Field Office; District Attorney Joseph Early of Worcester County; Colonel Timothy Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Chief Walter J. Warchol of the Northbridge Police Department made the announcement today. This was a joint investigation that was initiated by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Department who discovered Myer’s alleged conduct and provided the information that directly led to his identification and the subsequent federal charges. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady and David Hennessy of Ortiz’s Worcester Office.