Peabody Man Indicted on Child Pornography Charges

BOSTON – A Peabody man was indicted yesterday on child pornography charges.

Patrick Lynch, 22, of Peabody, was indicted on receipt and possession of child pornography.  The indictment alleges that beginning in May 2013, Lynch began receiving emails containing child pornography.  A federal investigation revealed that Lynch was affiliated with the Boy Scouts, including a position at the Philmont Training Center for Boy Scouts of America.  Lynch had also been employed at the Greater Beverly YMCA, and had recently begun employment with Beanstalk Adventure Ropes Course in Reading, Mass.

The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum term of five years and no greater than 20 years in prison.  The charge of possession of child pornography provides for no greater than 20 years in prison.  Both statutes provide for a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today.  Assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Peabody Police Department.  The case is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eve A. Piemonte Stacey of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.  In 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 DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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/.