A UTM graduate assistant employed in the Student Success Center may face prison time after being indicted on federal charges including child pornography and coercing a minor to engage in sexual conduct.

William Barry Morris was indicted March 15 on four counts of charges involving pornography and minors. A lengthy investigation that was initiated by the Weakley County Sheriff’s Office escalated with the involvement of federal agents.

According to the indictment from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, authorities found more than 1,800 computer images and movie files, including those with minors “engaging in sexually explicit conduct,” in his personal computer(s). Federal agents confiscated three desktop computers and one laptop from Morris.

The indictment also states that Morris “knowingly used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor female,” who was said to be 11 years old, “to engage in sexually explicit conduct, specifically the lascivious exhibition of the genitals and pubic area ... for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct.”

Other charges include knowingly receiving visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and having the knowledge that these pictures would be involved in interstate and foreign commerce.

Morris could receive a maximum of 60 years in prison and be fined up to $750,000 if convicted on all of the charges that face him.

Leanne Jordan from the U.S. Attorney General’s office in Memphis told the Weakley County Press that Morris was denied bond because he was considered a “risk.”

University Relations Director Bud Grimes told The Pacer that Morris was pursuing a graduate degree in counseling in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Morris was also in his second year as a graduate assistant at the Student Success Center, where he was assigned to supplemental instruction and tutoring. Morris lost his job at the Student Success Center when he withdrew from his graduate class.

“Mr. Morris requested that he be dropped from a current class that he was taking, thus making him ineligible to keep his graduate assistant’s position. His position ended effective April 1. He is no longer on the payroll,” Grimes said.

Grimes added that the hard drive of the work computer that Morris used also was searched and that no illegal material was found. Student Success Center Director George Daniel chose not to comment on the situation, but said the plans for hiring another employee are currently under consideration.

The indictment against Morris cites an investigation of events that began as early as September 2003.