William Van NormanPhoto: Courtesy of the Charlottesville Police Department
A James Madison University associate professor has been arrested in Charlottesville on multiple child pornography charges and is now on administrative leave.
William Van Norman, 68, was taken into custody Tuesday after Charlottesville Police executed search and arrest warrants at a Bolling Avenue residence. The arrest follows an investigation sparked by a February tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force about suspected child pornography possession in the area.
Van Norman faces three charges: one count of possessing child pornography and two counts related to repeated offenses. He is currently being held at the Albemarle/Charlottesville Regional Jail and appeared in Charlottesville Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court for a bond hearing on Wednesday.
According to JMU’s website, Van Norman is a history associate professor and chair of the university’s Latin American and Caribbean Studies program. A university spokesperson confirmed he has been placed on leave and declined to offer further comment.
SOURCE: WHSV3