38-year-old David Linnehan (Credit: MassLive).
NORTHAMPTON, MA (WSHM) -
A Granby man and former Springfield College administrator was arraigned Thursday in Hampshire Superior Court for allegedly producing, possessing, and distributing child pornography, according to news release from the office of Attorney General Martha Coakley.
The defendant, identified as 38-year-old David Linnehan, was also arraigned on charges relating to the unauthorized access of Springfield College students' computers and email accounts, as well as charges for possessing and improperly storing an unlicensed firearm, according to the news release.
Linnehan was charged with two counts of production of child pornography, attempted production of child pornography, eight counts of dissemination of child pornography, 11 counts of possession of child pornography, 13 counts of unauthorized access to computer system, unlicensed possession of a firearm, and unsecured storage of a firearm, according to the news release.
Linnehan pleaded not guilty to the charges and the $25,000 bail was transferred from Eastern Hampshire District Court with the conditions that he surrender his passport, not leave the state of Massachusetts, be monitored via GPS, have no access to the internet, have no contact with any child under the age of 18, and stay away from parks, daycare centers and schools, the news release stated.
Linnehan is due back in Hampshire Superior Court on June 11 for a pre-trial hearing.
In March 2013, Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Attorney General's Office received information from federal authorities about an email account linked to a residence in Granby that they believed was involved in the trading of child pornography.
In April 2013, state police obtained and executed a search warrant for that residence and arrested Linnehan. On April 2, 2013, he was arraigned in Eastern Hampshire District Court on two counts of possession of child pornography where he pleaded not guilty.
"Further investigation revealed that Linnehan allegedly stored thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse on computers and other media at home and at his workplace in addition to the files allegedly located within his email," the news release stated.
Linnehan also allegedly distributed child pornography via email.
As the investigation continued, authorities learned that Linnehan allegedly encouraged an out-of-state woman to take and send him nude photographs of her young daughter. Investigators also allege that Linnehan attempted to solicit self-produced, nude images of another minor over the internet.
"Further, forensic evidence revealed that Linnehan allegedly abused his position as an IT administrator at Springfield College to gain unauthorized access to students' computers, school email accounts, and, on at least one occasion, a personal Gmail account," the news release stated.
Through this access, Linnehan allegedly copied and downloaded private, personal photographs without authorization and stored them on his own computers. The AG's Office has worked with Springfield College to identify and notify all known students affected by this conduct.
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