Censorship expert charged with child porn

A professor whose research focuses on Internet censorship and the use of children in advertising has been charged with having child pornography on his Central Michigan University computer.

AP Wire

Nov 8, 2012

The school announced Thursday that it has suspended William L. Merrill and barred him from the campus in Mount Pleasant.

The Associated Press left phone and e-mail messages Thursday night for Merrill, a 58-year-old tenured faculty member in the College of Education and Human Services.

According to the university, its information technology employees found "inappropriate material" on Merrill's computer Monday, and it suspended him that day.

Isabella County prosecutors have charged him with four counts of possession of child pornography and with possession of a switchblade.