The case against African and African American studies and English professor J. Martin Favor will moveto a grand jury, after Favor waived his right to a probable cause hearing on Monday. Favor was arrested on Sept. 4 for allegedly having videos of child pornography in his possession.
Prosecutor Marc Hathaway said that since the defense did not raise the issue of probable cause in this case, the investigation into Favor’s alleged crimes will continue and police officers will gather and examine evidence before the state determines what charges are appropriate. In general, this process is completed within90 days, Hathaway said.
Five complaints filed by the police on the day of Favor’s arrest allege that Favor knowingly had in his possession videos depicting the sexual abuse of several prepubescent boys and a prepubescent girl.
After a hearing in Claremont District Court on Friday, he was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bail. No plea was entered.
Favor has been placed on paid administrative leave and is banned from campus, College spokesperson Diana Lawrence wrote in an email.
“We have no reason to believe that the charges against Professor Favor have anything to do with his employment at Dartmouth,” she wrote.
Favor has been a professor at the College for 22 years and formerly chaired the African American studies program. Access to Favor’s faculty page on the College website has been denied.
Favor’s attorney, Charlie Buttrey, declined to comment on any matter pertaining to the arrest, citing the rules of professional responsibility.
The Dartmouth has reached out to Favor for comment.
Lauren Budd contributed reporting.
