Two Massachusetts Individuals Charged with Child Pornography Offenses

WASHINGTON—Two Massachusetts individuals were charged in separate cases today with child pornography offenses, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Divisions, U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz for the District of Massachusetts, and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division.

Richard A. Doherty Jr., 22, of Fall River, Mass., was charged in an indictment returned today with possession of child pornography. The indictment alleges that on Dec. 15, 2009, Doherty possessed visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Christopher E. Reardon, 26, of New Bedford, Mass., was charged in an indictment returned today with transportation and possession of child pornography. The indictment alleges that on Oct. 27, 2009, Reardon transported visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment also alleges that on April 12, 2010, Reardon possessed additional child pornography.

The possession of child pornography charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, to be followed by up to a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The transportation of child pornography charges carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, as well as a lifetime term of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

The cases were investigated by the FBI. They are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael I. Yoon of the U.S. Attorney’s Major Crimes Unit, and Trial Attorney Thomas Franzinger of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

The details contained in the indictments are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.