A Level 2 registered sex offender is working at two Massachusetts colleges, officials confirmed Tuesday.
The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board confirmed to NECN that Sean Janson was registered after being convicted in 2004 of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older and purchase or possession of child pornography.
Bridgewater State University, one of the schools where Janson is employed, defended him Tuesday afternoon.
"Considerable media attention has been devoted to publicizing the fact that a longstanding member of our campus community is categorized as a registered sex offender for an incident that occurred much earlier in his life," said Bridgewater State University President Dana Mohler-Faria in a statement. "This individual was adjudicated by the Massachusetts criminal justice system, was convicted but sentenced to no jail time, and successfully completed all court-mandated rehabilitation and ongoing registration with the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry."
"For nearly seven years, he has been a talented educator and a highly collaborative colleague," added Mohler-Faria.
Massasoit Community College in Brockton confirmed that Janson is an English professor at the school.
Bridgewater State University said that in a statement that it does not have a policy against hiring sex offenders.
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"We will always, however, take every prudent and appropriate step to safeguard the well being of our broader university community," the school added.
NECN will have more as this story develops.
