Webster Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography

BOSTON – A Webster man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to possession of child pornography.

William Shenette, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Nov. 1, 2018.

On Dec. 1, 2017, federal and state law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Shenette's residence in Webster. Shennette admitted that he had received two videos of “kiddy porn” the previous evening. During their search, Shenette’s tablet was seized and an on-scene forensic exam was conducted, which revealed two videos, one of a prepubescent girl being anally penetrated by an adult male and another of a female child being orally penetrated by an adult male.

In addition, Kik Messenger chats between Shenette and another person regarding the videos were found. During those chats, Shenette stated that he “wants to (expletive) a little girl” aged “6 to 12.” In response, the third party sent the aforementioned videos.

The charge provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent; and Chief Timothy Bent, Webster Police Department, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Dineen Jerrett of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.