Manchester Man Sentenced to 32 Years in Prison for Transporting a Minor for Sex

            CONCORD - Kurt Carpentino, 35, of Manchester, was sentenced in federal court to 32 years in prison for transporting a minor across state lines for sex, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.  

            Carpentino was convicted in a jury trial on July 11, 2018. The evidence showed that on April 27, 2017, the Hinsdale, New Hampshire Police Department received a report of a missing 14-year-old child. The child was found later that morning at an abandoned motel in Rockingham, Vermont. The child told the police that the defendant took her to the motel and that they had sex there. The defendant was observed driving by the motel and arrested nearby. Later that day, he admitted to taking the child from New Hampshire to Vermont and having sex with her at the hotel. A few weeks later, the defendant wrote the victim letters from jail, attempting to get her to recant her statement to the police.  

            “Protecting the innocence and wellbeing of our children is one of the highest priorities of the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “The defendant took advantage of a young child and will be incarcerated for a very long time to prevent him from inflicting damage on other children.  I am grateful to Vermont, New Hampshire and Federal officers whose work resulted in the conviction and long term incarceration of this predator.”          

            “With today’s sentence, justice has been served on Kurt Carpentino, “said Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, Boston. “The results in this case could not have been achieved without the tireless work of the dedicated professionals of Homeland Security Investigations in New Hampshire.  Protecting innocent children will remain a top priority for HSI and our law enforcement partners.  Together with the U.S. Attorney and state and local police, we will continue to make every effort to ensure that those who victimize children will be brought to justice and face their day in court.  “

            This matter was investigated by the Vermont State Police, Homeland Security Investigations in Manchester, New Hampshire, the Hinsdale, New Hampshire Police Department, the Manchester, New Hampshire Police Department, the Springfield, Vermont Police Department, and the New Hampshire State Police, with the assistance of the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgiana L. Konesky.

            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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