Michael Henson, a department head and longtime professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was arraigned Friday in Northampton District Court on child exploitation charges.
Henson, who took over UMass’ chemical engineering department earlier this year after teaching there since 2002, is accused of taking more than four dozen photos of a minor in varying states of undress over a period of several months last year.
His defense attorney, Marissa Elkins, entered a plea of not guilty on Henson’s behalf.
Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Frederic Bartmon requested that Henson be released on personal recognizance on the condition he stay away from his accuser and his accuser’s family.
Henson is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 17 for a pretrial conference.
Court documents obtained by MassLive in early September claim that after learning of Henson’s behavior, his accuser confronted him about it and asked him to stop.
Investigators say Henson sent text messages admitting to the behavior, but a review of his cell phone found the device had been wiped clean and reset, officials said.
Henson was originally scheduled to teach two chemical engineering courses this fall until he was placed on administrative leave.
“Given that action,” university spokesperson Ed Blaguszewski said at the time, “he will not be teaching any classes.”
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