Merrimack College Professor Charged With Having Child Porn

Boston – The chairman of Merrimack College’s Civil Engineering Department was arrested Friday for possession of child pornography.

Gary S. Spring, 61, of Danvers, was charged in a criminal complaint with possession of child pornography. Spring was also the administrator of the college’s residential summer camp for middle and high school aged children.

According to the criminal complaint, in June 2014, Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass. uncovered suspicious activity associated with one of the college’s loaner computers through virus threat detection alerts. An internal investigation determined that the computer had been loaned out to Spring, and that Spring had been logged on during the time the alerts were triggered. Further investigation determined that the computer was used to access child pornography. Search warrants were executed at Spring’s office at Merrimack College and his residence in Danvers. Spring was arrested after it was confirmed that he possessed child pornography.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, five years to a lifetime supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.