Former CMU professor held on $500,000 bond

William Merrill, a former faculty member in Central Michigan University’s teacher education and professional development department, is being held on $500,000 bond in the Isabella County Jail following his arrest and arraignment this morning on three felony child pornography charges.

 

The most serious charge of manufacturing child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

 

Merrill also was charged with one misdemeanor count of possession of a switchblade.

 

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 15 before Isabella County Trial Court Judge William Rush.

 

The university received a letter of resignation from Merrill Monday with an effective date of Friday, Nov. 9. He was suspended from the university Nov. 5, hours after members of CMU’s information technology staff discovered allegedly inappropriate material on his university computer. CMU Police immediately launched an investigation, which led to the Isabella County prosecuting attorney issuing an arrest warrant.

 

CMU is cooperating fully with law enforcement personnel as they investigate details of the case.