Former Professor Charged With Possession Of Child Porn

A former Merrimack College professor is charged with possession of child pornography, including accessing it on a college computer.

Federal prosecutors said 61-year-old Gary Spring, who was chairman of the civil engineering department and administrator of a youth summer camp at the North Andover campus, was arrested Friday.

Merrimack began investigating in June after getting virus alerts for a college computer loaned to Spring. The college discovered he was logged on when the alerts were triggered and that the computer was used to access child porn.

Prosecutors said child pornography was found at Spring's office and Danvers home.

Merrimack said it is ``saddened by these disturbing allegations.'' Spring was placed on administrative leave and barred from campus at the beginning of the internal investigation, and fired Friday.