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Press Release

Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Hampshire

           CONCORD - Matthew Dion, 49, of Bedford, pleaded guilty in federal court to attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about April 19, 2020, the Bedford Police Department was contacted by a representative of an organization that facilitates foreign exchange students traveling to the United States and residing with American host families.  The representative reported that a 15-year-old student, who resided in Dion’s home, believed he had been recorded by Dion while he showered. The child had found what he believed to be a camera hidden inside a device that looked like a pen in the bathroom he used in the residence. The Bedford Police responded to the residence and the child was removed from the home.  

            On April 28, 2020, officers executed a search warrant at Dion’s residence and seized various items including a Micro SD card from Dion’s vehicle. On the device, officers found sexually explicit images of the child taken in the bathroom, as the child was getting out of the shower. A forensic examiner determined that the SD card had been reformatted on or about April 21, 2020, shortly after the Bedford police responded to Dion’s home. This is consistent with someone attempting to delete items from the device on that date.

            Dion is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19, 2021.

            “Protecting children from harm is one of the fundamental roles of law enforcement,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.  “This case is an example of how law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire are working together to keep children safe.  Thanks to that cooperation, this defendant’s disturbing and unlawful conduct was detected and stopped.”

             “Matthew Dion was entrusted to provide a safe environment for a child but he violated that obligation in an extraordinary manner. Homeland Security Investigations and our partners in the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force are committed to investigating cases like this to keep the children in our community safe,” said William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations, Boston.

             This matter was investigated by the Bedford Police Department, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations and the Milford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgiana L. MacDonald.

              In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s 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.

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Updated May 11, 2021

Topic
Project Safe Childhood
Press Release Number: 21-097