CHICOPEE — Chicopee teacher Keith Harrison has been charged with two counts of possession of child pornography; one count of attempting to commit a crime, to wit, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and one count of dissemination of child pornography.
On Wednesday, Sept. 9, Harrison was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on the four charges, and he pleaded not guilty.
The commonwealth requested that Harrison be held on $100,000 cash bail. Defense requested that he be released on personal recognizance with conditions, and the judge ordered that Harrison be held on $75,000 bail. If bail is posted, the conditions of release include GPS with zero curfew and no contact direct/indirect with children under 18. Additionally, Harrison couldn’t possess electronic devices with internet capability, and probation would search all electronic devices.
Harrison, a former teacher at Holyoke Public Schools and Pittsfield Public Schools, is currently an employee of Chicopee Public Schools.
On Aug. 23, the FBI National Threat Center received information regarding communications that Harrison was having with an undercover individual he believed to be a 13-year-old female on an online chat platform, Discord.
He engaged the agent in a chat and identified himself as an adult. On the chat, the defendant made explicit sexual requests of the undercover agent.
On Sept. 8, the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit conducted a search warrant of Harrison’s residence at 52 Hubbard St. in Lenox. The search led to the recovery of multiple items, which included hundreds of child sexual assault materials.
The investigation into the items seized during the search warrant is ongoing. Additional charges may come following the conclusion of the investigation.
A pretrial hearing date has been set for Thursday, Oct. 8.
The city and its participating departments released a statement on Sept. 8 after Harrison’s home was searched and he was arrested.
The statement said Chicopee Public Schools were made aware of Harrison’s arrest by the Massachusetts State Police at his home in Berkshire County.
Upon learning of these allegations, the district took immediate action and placed Harrison on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The statement emphasized that there are no allegations that the conduct under investigation occurred on school grounds, involved school resources or connected with any Chicopee students or staff.
“The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority. The Police Department, School Department and mayor’s office will continue to actively monitor the situation and fully cooperate with and assist law enforcement officials throughout this ongoing investigation,” the statement read. “We also recognize that an arrest is not a determination of guilt, and the individual is entitled to due process under the law. We ask that everyone allow the legal process to proceed while respecting the privacy and well-being of those potentially affected.”
