Haverhill Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charge

BOSTON—A Haverhill man was convicted today in federal court of accessing child pornography with intent to view.

Mark E. Rita, 43, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf. Had the case proceeded to trial the government’s evidence would have proven that the FBI, during an undercover operation, downloaded child pornography offered online by Rita. Rita’s files included pictures of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Following a search warrant executed at his home, Rita stated that he viewed adult and child pornography during the day when his wife and children were not home. Examination of Rita’s computer media revealed hundreds of images of child pornography cached on the computer.

Chief Judge Wolf scheduled sentencing for August 1, 2012. Rita faces up to 10 years in prison to be followed by up to lifetime supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement today. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael I. Yoon of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit and Trial Attorney Thomas Franzinger of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).

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 and the Criminal Division’s CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.