11 New Hampshire residents charged in child porn arrests

[Ian David]

CONCORD, N.H. -- A statewide investigation into child pornography led to 11 arrests since November, and officials said more are coming.

Members of the investigative task force told alarming stories Wednesday of what they found: images of children as young as 3 years old being raped, others being tied up and raped and some dancing and performing oral sex on adults. In one case, police went to a Portsmouth home and found a computer actively downloading images while the suspect was out shopping for groceries. In Hudson, police said they found a computer server so large they had to use an ambulance to remove it from the suspect's house.

The statewide child exploitation task force -- made of federal, state, county and local law enforcement -- identified 11 adults charged with child pornography possession, which carries a maximum 7-year prison sentence. They are:

CONCORD, N.H. -- A statewide investigation into child pornography led to 11 arrests since November, and officials said more are coming.

Members of the investigative task force told alarming stories Wednesday of what they found: images of children as young as 3 years old being raped, others being tied up and raped and some dancing and performing oral sex on adults. In one case, police went to a Portsmouth home and found a computer actively downloading images while the suspect was out shopping for groceries. In Hudson, police said they found a computer server so large they had to use an ambulance to remove it from the suspect's house.

The statewide child exploitation task force -- made of federal, state, county and local law enforcement -- identified 11 adults charged with child pornography possession, which carries a maximum 7-year prison sentence. They are:

-- David Curtis, 42, of Derry

-- Jessica Doty, 20, of Manchester

-- John Fironini, of North Hampton

-- Matthew Greenwood, 27, of Dover

-- Jeremy Leavis, 32, of Epping

-- Charles Lyons, 33, of Hudson

-- David Martinuk, 41, of Rye

-- Nicholas Plourde, of Meredith

-- Patrick Roddy, 51, of Portsmouth

-- Ryan St. Jean, 18, of Hampstead

-- James Skerry, 62, of Raymond

The task force arrested a 12th man, Juan Castaner, 22, of Manchester, who was charged with drug possession and being a felon in possession of a weapon. Authorities also filed nine petitions against juveniles who were not identified. Police said none of the people arrested work with children.

More:
http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO55949/

[redqueen]

1. Lord...

I hate reading about that stuff... but it is good to know they're not getting away with it. At least a few aren't anymore, anyway.

*sigh*

[Breeze54]

2. And a woman too! ? O-M-G! People are sick!.

:grr:

I wonder if they were caught in that international ring that got busted recently.

[porphyrian]

3. That's seriously fucked up.

What has to happen to someone to make something like this, or killing your wife and kid, OK? What the fuck is wrong with the world?

[Ian David]

4. I already checked all those names through OpenSecrets.org and came up empty.

Nobody on that list donates to either party this time.

[porphyrian]

7. Well, I don't think it's a political thing, though psychopaths would certainly have an easier time..

...blending in with other people who don't give a shit about anyone other than themselves (republicants). I just don't get how fucked up someone's life must be to get to the place where atrocity seems like a good choice.

[Ian David]

8. I just believe in holding the "Party of Family Values" up to their own alleged "standards."

The Repukes are welcome to check lists of people arrested for polluting against the Democratic donor lists.

[porphyrian]

10. Hey, it's certainly fair play.

And I'm glad someone thought to look.
;)

[MADem]

5. I oppose the death penalty, generally. But when it comes to this, I might be persuaded to make an

exception.

I just think that abusing children in that fashion is as low as a creature can get. And to make a business of it, to boot? How...reprehensible!!!

...a computer server so large they had to use an ambulance to remove it from the suspect's house....

It's just mindboggling.

[DavidDvorkin]

6. Arrested for possession of images?

And DUers applaud?

That's disturbing in and of itself.

The abuse of children is horrifying, but that's what law enforcement organizations should be trying to stamp, and not the possession of images.

Okay, here comes the usual flood of empty arguments justifying this kind of witch hunt.

[aikoaiko]

9. I don't follow you?

Are you in support of these people possessing these images?

Don't you think its worth getting these people to flip on the producers of these images since they are the ones abusing the children directly?

[MissB]

11. I don't get your stance either.

Possession of child porn is a crime.

[DavidDvorkin]

12. I'm saying that possession of images should not be a crime

The laws against possessing child porn constitute a witch hunt. DUers should be outraged by the existence of such laws, not joining the crowds carrying the torches.

The standard argument in favor of such laws -- that such images are proof of and encouragement of crimes against children are nonsense. First, as I said, law enforcement agencies should focus on those crimes, not on sickos looking at pictures. (We're reacting to our disgust at the sickness of the pictures and then letting our buttons be pushed.) Second, if that were really the argument, then the prosecution for possession wouldn't extend so bizarrely to people who possess drawings of child porn and people who take pictures of their own kids naked in the bathtub.

People who like to look at child porn are sick, but so are those who have enacted laws against possession of images.

[Silent3]

14. Besides being strongly pro First Amendment...

...I have a real problem with "possession" crimes in general, especially involving things like computer files, which are easy to plant, and easy to have in your "possession" without even knowing it.

As far as I know (and I don't claim legal expertise here, and such things might vary from state to state), it's merely up to the whim of prosecutors whether or not to make allowances for whether or not possession was intentional or not. If they decide to prosecute, possession is the only thing they have to prove, not willful acquisition or knowledge of the possession. For an ex-spouse trying to discredit you in a custody battle, for a prosecutor looking to get some publicity, or for a political hack with a rival to destroy, possession laws like this are the stuff dreams are made of.

[DavidDvorkin]

15. Yes, that's a good point.

[lonestarnot]

13. Sonsabitches! Lock 'em and rock 'em to injury.