Palmer Pedophile Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography

BOSTON – A grim revelation has emerged from U.S. District Court in Springfield, where a 65-year-old Palmer man, Charles Benoit, pleaded guilty today to possession of child pornography.

Benoit’s dark descent into the realm of pedophilia came to light as he admitted to using Limewire, an online file-sharing program, between 2009 and 2010. His searches were explicit, using terms like “preteen hard core” and “PTHC,” painting a chilling picture of his sickening behavior.

The consequences of his actions are severe, with Benoit facing up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. However, actual sentences for federal crimes like this are typically less than the maximum penalties, imposed by a federal district court judge based on guidelines and other factors.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, announced the plea. Alex Grant of Ortiz’s Springfield Branch Office is handling the prosecution. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to protect children from exploitation since 2006.

Project Safe Childhood leverages federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children. To learn more about this crucial initiative, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.