University Of Alabama Professor Arrested For Possession Of Child Pornography

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A professor at the University of Alabama has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography after a search warrant was carried out at his residence Tuesday morning by the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force.

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The task force says James Andrew Crank, 45, was charged with two counts of possession of material containing visual depictions of persons under 17 involved in obscene acts.

What's more, investigators said the warrant was obtained as the result of an ongoing investigation that led to the charges filed Tuesday, going on to say that Crank could face additional charges following a thorough investigation of devices seized during the search.

Crank has not yet had his bond set by a judge.

Crank is listed on the University of Alabama website as an associate professor of American literature and culture, along with being the director of Graduate Studies in the Department of English.

His faculty profile says he is a former National Humanities Center Summer Fellow and co-host of the podcast “The Sound and the Furious," in addition to being a contributor to the BBC and the PBS television show “The Great American Read.”

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