Northbridge Scout leader arrested on porn charges

NORTHBRIDGE, Mass. (WHDH) -- Parents in the town of Northbridge are demanding answers after a Boy Scout leader and a substitute teacher was arrested on child pornography charges.

School leaders invited parents to a meeting in Northbridge Thursday night.

“I’m just frustrated with the whole situation. It’s nobody’s fault, you can’t put blame on anybody but people want answers,” said Carrie Lacomb, a parent.

The Northbridge School District is trying to answer some of those questions, holding a meeting for parents after a man who taught in the middle school was arrested on federal pornography charges.

Andrew Myers, A 34-year-old Whitinsville man is accused of having inappropriate pictures of underage boys -- and he's accused of using the Internet to try and engage young boys in sexual activities.

Investigators say one of those boys lives in Colorado, but three more are here in Massachusetts.

“Saddened, shocked. It's tough when your town is brought into the news light for something like this,” said Dan Nolan, town selectman.

Cameras were kept off of school property and reporters weren't allowed into a meeting which parents say focused on how to talk to kids about the accusations against a former teacher.

The substitute middle school teacher was also a local Boy Scout leader, promoted to scout master two years ago.

“My daughter has been very upset since. She was very close to him when he was a teacher in her classroom,” said Deanna Duffy, a parent.

If convicted, Myers could face up to 10 years in prison on the pornography charges, and a minimum of 10 years for the Internet enticement charges.

The school’s interim superintendent isn’t talking about the case but her office told 7News that representatives from the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s office, and the Worcester District Attorney’s office were at the meeting Thursday night to answer parents’ questions.