Granby man arraigned for producing child porn, other charges

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) – A Granby man was arraigned Thursday for allegedly producing, possessing and distributing child pornography. He was also arraigned on charges for possessing and improperly storing an unlicensed firearm and charges regarding the unauthorized access of Springfield College students' computers and email accounts.

In March of last year, Massachusetts State Police received information about an email account linked to a residence in Granby that was allegedly involved in the trading of child pornography. The next month, police executed a search warrant for that residence and arrested David Linnehan, 38.

Linnehan was arraigned last year on charges of two counts of possession of child pornography. He pleaded not guilty and his bail was set at $25,000 with several conditions.

Officers continued to investigate and found that Linnehan allegedly stored thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse on computers and other media at his house and workplace. He also allegedly distributed child pornography through emails. Investigators also allege that he urged an out-of-state woman to take and send him nude pictures of her young daughter and tried to solicit self-produced, naked photos of another minor over the Internet.

Additional evidence also revealed that Linnehan allegedly used his position as an IT administrator at Springfield College to access students computers, email accounts and a personal Gmail account. Using this unauthorized access, Linnehan allegedly copied and downloaded private photographs and saved them.

In addition, investigators found an unlicensed and unsecured firearm at his home.

David Linnehan, 38, pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of production of child pornography (two counts), attempted production of child pornography, dissemination of child pornography (eight counts), possession of child pornography (11 counts), unauthorized access to computer system (13 counts), unlicensed possession of a firearm, and unsecured storage of a firearm. The $25,000 bail was transferred from Eastern Hampshire District Court with the conditions that he surrender his passport, not leave Massachusetts, be monitored via GPS, refrain from using the Internet, stay away from children under the age of 18, and stay away from parks, daycares and schools

He is due next in court on June 11 for a pre-trial hearing.

Cox Media Group