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NORTHBRIDGE, Mass. – A local attorney and Boy Scout Leader was charged today with possession of child pornography and use of the Internet to entice minors to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
Andrew Myers, 34, of Tracey Drive, was arrested at his home Tuesday morning and is scheduled to face charges today in U.S. District Court, Boston, according to information provided by the U.S. Attorney in Boston.
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.
Myers was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Boston today for an initial appearance before Judge Jennifer C. Boal.
Myers has a law office on Church Street. He was a member of the Northbridge School Committee for three years and also served as a substitute teacher for the Northbridge School Department.
Schools Superintendent Nancy Spitulnik said Myers was a substitute teacher from December 2009 to November 2011. She said the school department has been made aware of the charges against Myers and is working closely in conjunction with the authorities.
"We are unable to provide further comments at this time," she said.
Myers has been involved with scouting since boyhood, earning the highest award in Boy Scouts, the Eagle Award, in 1993 as a member of Boy Scout Troop 155.
Today's arrest was the result of a joint investigation 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.
According to the affidavit, the investigation was initiated when law enforcement officials from the Larimer County (Colorado) Sheriff’s Office contacted the Northbridge Police Department regarding an ongoing child exploitation investigation.
Colorado authorities were investigating a complaint from a Colorado mother who reported that her 12-year-old son had been communicating via email 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 man as Myers and solicited the assistance of the Northbridge Police Department.
Myers allegedly communicated via email with at least three individuals suspected to be minor males. In the emails, Myers offers to perform sexual acts on the boys. The investigation also revealed that Myers has received emails containing images depicting prepubescent boys exposing their genitals.
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.
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Comments (8)
I am so bummed out....Andy, I stuck up for you and your service to our kids many times. Hope you get the help you need.
Everett don't worry he is going to get help in prison from the inmates,
Oh my god! He was our assistant teacher in our classroom!
Andy, you should start wearing your jock strap backwards, for your own protection! When they put you in that cell with Buba,all hellis going to break out!
Abusing the public trust in such a way - is unforgiveable... His personal and professional credentials mean nothing now, and to prosecute him with the intent of anything less than the maximum penalty...is foolish. Personally speaking, on a macro social level - this scenario seems to be rearing its ugly head all too frequently...Something is wrong, very wrong with the world as we know it - I really fear for the children... Oh, one last thing - don't you just want to punch the living %$#^ out of his picture posted with this story?!
Put him in the general population in prison.
This is so disturbing. I remember when he was running for a seat on the board of selectmen and later was elected to the school committee. To look at him you'd think he was a clean cut young man - not a pervert preying on innocent children. I wonder what kind of law he practiced - and what hi clients think about the latest addition to his resume.
Boy Scouts are starting to sound like the Catholic church.