Charges lead to meeting; Porn allegations raise concerns.

Byline: Susan Spencer

NORTHBRIDGE - About 100 to 200 people, mostly parents, attended a closed meeting at Northbridge High School Thursday night to talk about allegations that 34-year-old Andrew J. Myers, a local lawyer, former Boy Scout leader and part-time teacher in Northbridge and Millbury, possessed child pornography and enticed boys over the Internet to have illegal sex.

Northbridge Interim Superintendent Nancy Spitulnik said yesterday, "It really was informational. ... We talked about how they get support for themselves or their children, basically to figure out where do parents go for help and that it's going to be a long process."

Scheduled to attend the meeting were two federal prosecutors, David H. Hennessy and Mark J. Grady, and a victim specialist from the U.S. Attorney's office; two FBI agents; an assistant district attorney and victim-witness specialist from the Worcester district attorney's office; and the police chiefs and school superintendents from Northbridge and Millbury.

Michael McGrath, Northbridge School Committee chairman, said no specific action came out of the meeting, but parents were given more information about the charges, as outlined in the federal affidavit, and were offered resources for help if they wanted to talk with law enforcement, school officials or a counselor.

He said parents were told a federal agent would have already contacted them if their child was known to be a victim.

According to the affidavit, Mr. Myers had email contact with at least three boys from Northbridge, asking them to send nude photos and offering to perform sexual acts on them.

Mr. Myers was arrested Tuesday at his Whitinsville home after authorities from the Larimer County, Colo., sheriff's office contacted Northbridge police about Mr. Myers' alleged communication over email and the Web-streaming service Skype with a 12-year-old Colorado boy. In those communications, Mr. Myers allegedly attempted to entice the boy to display sexual acts.

Mr. Myers appeared in U.S. District Court in Worcester Thursday before Magistrate Judge Robert B. Collings. He waived his right to the probable cause and detention hearing and was returned to the custody of federal marshals.

"They (federal officials) were very specific that they would do everything they could to make sure he doesn't come home," Mr. McGrath said.

Timothy Connolly, spokesman for Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr., said Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey T. Travers attended the meeting and offered prevention resources such as programs on Internet safety.

Both Northbridge and Millbury school districts ran CORI checks on Mr. Myers before he was hired as a substitute teacher or instructional aide. The CORI system reports criminal records within Massachusetts.

Law enforcement can also check federal databases for criminal charges in other states.

Mr. Myers did not have a criminal record in Massachusetts and there is no indication he faced charges elsewhere, according to Northbridge Police Lt. Timothy Labrie.

The Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers reported that Mr. Myers was admitted to the bar to practice law Dec. 16, 2004. His license is active and he has no record of public discipline.

Mr. Myers' law office is at 70 Church St., Whitinsville.