Former Franklin teaching assistant accused of dealing child pornography

A former teaching assistant has been charged with distribution of child pornography.

Federal agents said Scott Z. Myers, 27 of Franklin, was sharing more than 3,000 computer files containing child pornography. Many of the files depicted images of young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Investigators say that Myers stated in an Internet chat session that he had engaged in sexual activity with at least four underage boys who lived near him. When agents approached Myers' home, early Wednesday morning with a federal search warrant, they observed him leaving his apartment with two young boys, according to the Department of Justice. An on-site examination of Myers' computer yielded inappropriate images of minors.

The Franklin Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a referral from the FBI about the case on Sept. 21, according to the Department of Justice.

Myers worked as a teaching assistant at Freedom Intermediate School from August 2006 until May 2009, according to the Franklin Special School District. He also worked for about 20 days in the Morning and Afternoon Care program from February to May. He has not worked in any FSSD school since May.

School officials said they have removed him from the list of eligible substitute teachers. Every potential FSSD employee undergoes a background check by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The TBI reported on Myers, which was conducted in June 2006, provided no information that would have precluded him from consideration for employment, according to FSSD officials. School administrators received no reports regarding suspicious or inappropriate behavior during Myers' employment with FSSD.