SHREWSBURY – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced on Monday that Brian Lingard, 60, of Shrewsbury, who has served as a volunteer adult mentor for the Shrewsbury High School Robotics program since 2013, was arrested on charges of possessing and transporting child pornography.
Lingard is appearing today at the U.S. District Court in Worcester.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Lingard’s phone had 23 images depicting child sexual abuse material of children who appear to be under 10 years old. A subsequent search of devices stored at Lingard’s residence revealed an additional collection of alleged sexual abuse material.
According to an email from Shrewsbury High School Principal Todd Bazydlo to high school families, the complaint also indicated that Lingard also possessed multiple images of fully clothed females who appear to be minors. The images were allegedly focused on their buttocks and appear to take place in a school setting. According to Bazydlo, agents with the Department of Homeland Security determined through geolocation data that at least some photos were taken at Shrewsbury High School between 2018 and 2023.
“While the U.S. Attorney’s Office indicates that these images are not considered child pornography and are not part of the criminal charges, this information is deeply disturbing nonetheless,” Bazydlo wrote.
Lingard passed all his required CORI and criminal background checks while volunteering in Shrewsbury, according to Bazydlo.
The charge of transportation of child pornography provides for a sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.
Bazydlo encouraged anyone who may have questions or any information to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Project Safe Childhood hotline at (617) 748-3274 to speak with a victim witness advocate. Bazydlo also said people could call his office at (508) 841-8800.
