But instead of submitting the class work, Erickson allegedly handed in a disc that contained images of children as young as 7-years-old in sexually explicit situations. The disc, according to police reports, listed each youth by age, ranging from 7 to 14.
The professor opened the compact disc while at home last week, and upon realizing what was on the disc, turned it over to Wayne Wood, BCC's director of public safety.
Wood immediately set up a meeting with Fall River Detective Brian Cordeiro, which was held at the Elsbree Street campus last Friday.
Sgt. Ronald Furtado said after viewing the disc, police requested and received a search warrant for Erickson's home. He said Fall River and Swansea police executed the search warrant late last week and found "other items that were taken into evidence," from Erickson's bedroom.
Prior to being arrested, Erickson apparently realized he had handed in the wrong disc to his professor.
Police reports quote an e-mail Erickson sent to his professor, in which he appears to attempt to shift ownership of the disc from himself to an unnamed friend.
"Oh snap, I am sorry. I accidentally gave you my friend's mixed music CD that I meant to keep here and install the music on my computer," Erickson said in an e-mail to his professor. "I found the CD with the (final exam) on it. If there's some way I could send it to you, that would be great.
"I am sorry about that, and hope it didn't affect the grade at all. Again, if I could get that CD back so that I can install the music. Sorry for the mix up."
Erickson is due back in Second District Court for a pretrial hearing Feb. 21.
