Central Michigan U. Professor Is Charged With Child Pornography

Following a police investigation, William Lord Merrill, a professor in the department of teaching education and professional development, was suspended by the university and charged with four felonies, including one count of possessing sexually abusive material, one count of possessing child-sexual-abuse materials, and two counts of using a computer to commit a crime. The computer is owned by the university, which is cooperating with the police in the investigation.

Correction (11/9/2012, 3:11 p.m.): This post originally misreported the nature of one charge against Mr. Merrill. He is charged with possession of sexually abusive material, not child sex abuse. The post has been updated to reflect this correction.


CMU police chief Bill Yeagley said an investigation began Monday morning of a faculty member that had child pornography on a university computer. The department had received a tip Monday from someone who observed child pornography on a computer being used by the professor.

Read more at: www.cm-life.com