Columbia High School teacher charged with possession of child pornography

MAPLEWOOD – A Columbia High School teacher has been arrested and charged with being in possession of digital files depicting the sexual exploitation of children.

Michael A. Morrill, 55, is charged with third-degree possession of child pornography, acting Union County Prosecutor Jennifer Davenport said in a release.

An investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) subdivision of the Prosecutor’s Office’s Cyber Crime Task Force initiated earlier this year resulted in Morrill being identified as a suspect, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Derek Nececkas, who is prosecuting the case. Last week, Prosecutor’s Office Detectives executing a search warrant at Morrill’s home on the 1800 block of Manor Drive in Union Township recovered the digital files on a laptop found there, Nececkas said. 

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Also seized during the execution of the search warrant were two dozen other electronic devices, including a tablet, desktop computers, laptops, and removable hard drives and other storage devices, all of which will be forensically examined as part of the continuing investigation, according to the release.

Morrill has been employed at the school for nearly 25 years as an astronomy and physics teacher. The school has been notified of the arrest and charges, according to the release.

Morrill’s first court appearance is scheduled for June 19 in Union County.

Anyone with information about Morrill’s activities is urged to contact the Cyber Crime Task Force at 908-527-4500.