Ex-Newburyport City Councilor Faces Child Rape, Child Porn Charges

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NEWBURYPORT, Mass. (CBS/AP) — A former city councilor and school committee member in a Massachusetts community has been charged with child rape and possession of child pornography.

Bert Reed was held without bail Monday pending a hearing May 4 to determine whether he is a danger to society.

He was arrested by Newburyport police on Friday. Authorities say the 42-year-old Reed met the alleged victim, a boy under the age of 16, on the internet last year.

Former Newburyport City Councilor Bert Reed (WBZ-TV)

Reed served as a Newburyport city councilor from 2001 until 2003 and sat on the school committee from 1997 until 2001, according to the mayor.

The Essex District Attorney's Office told The Newburyport Daily News they started investigating Reed after getting a complaint from the alleged victim's parents.

His lawyer acknowledged there was enough probable cause for a dangerousness hearing but declined comment outside court.

Reed has been suspended from his job at Gordon College.