A Gorham man, whose wife runs a home-based day care, was arrested Tuesday at the home by state police on charges of possession of child pornography.

Ronald N. Meserve, 63, was arrested at 8 Newell St., where the Teddy Bear Day Care is located, at 4 p.m., according to Steve McCausland, a spokesman for Maine Department of Public Safety.

A local mother whose son attended the day care said she was stunned to hear about the charges.

“I’m shocked at the situation and disappointed,” said Erin Christianson of Gorham. “He needs Jesus.”

Christianson said Meserve’s wife, Darlene, operated the day care at the home.

Sgt. Glenn Lang, supervisor of the state’s computer crimes unit, said “a bunch” of computers were seized along with CDs. Lang said children involved appear to be under 12. The crime is a felony. Lang said Meserve was charged with three counts.

Meserve, who was being held at Cumberland County Jail on $5,000 cash bail, was scheduled to be arraigned in court Wednesday.

McCausland said the state’s computer crimes unit initiated the investigation. “It just came to our attention it was a day care and it rose to the top of our priority list,” said Lang.

Lang said the case is part of a national investigation, and he said federal authorities potentially could be involved in prosecuting the case.

Lang said he had not seen evidence that any children from the day care were involved and has not established a direct connection to the day care. Lang said Meserve and his wife lived there.

No one from day care returned telephone messages left Wednesday.

Christianson said she picked up her son, Xander, 3 1/2, about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday after receiving a call at work from Darlene Meserve.

Christianson said she had been happy with the care her son, who has been at the day care for two years, had received.

“Xander had a speech problem and needed therapy and Darlene worked very supportively with the therapist,” Christianson said, “and gave Xander a lot of love and support he needed to be a well-mannered, loving little boy.”

Christianson said Darlene Meserve voluntarily closed the day care, which Christianson said looked after approximately seven or eight children.

Christianson said she had always dealt with Darlene Meserve but had met Ronald Meserve.

“He’s always been very polite, always respectable,” Christianson said.

Lang said the Department of Health and Human Services was notified in advance of the arrest.

“It’s a huge concern,” Lang said.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, John Martins, said Wednesday the day care has closed voluntarily until the department completes an investigation, which will be headed up by the Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services. The day care is licensed to Darlene Meserve, according to Martins.

Martins said the day care had been investigated once previously in 2003, but the department was unable to substantiate the claim.

State police, assisted by Lt. Chris Sanborn of the Gorham Police Department, obtained a search warrant.

“Gorham police were awesome,” Lang said.

Lang didn’t speculate what any maximum penalty might be, if Meserve were convicted, as penalties vary.

“It could be a lot,” Lang said.

According to Gorham tax records, the property, which is just off the roundabout in Little Falls, is owned by Meserve. The house is about one third of a mile from the former Little Falls School on Acorn Street, which now houses an alternative education program.

A day care at at 8 Newell St. is licensed to Darlene Meserve. Her husband, Ronald Meserve, 63, who lived at the home, was arrested Tuesday on charges of possession of child pornography.A day care at at 8 Newell St. is licensed to Darlene Meserve. Her husband, Ronald Meserve, 63, who lived at the home, was arrested Tuesday on charges of possession of child pornography.