Scituate Man Admits to Sickening Child Porn Crimes

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Scituate man has confessed to a depraved act: possessing and distributing images of sexually abused children. David C. Duquette, 54, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography, the Department of Justice announced Monday.

The case began to unravel in February 2019 when Duquette began exchanging messages online. He sent at least two sexually explicit images of prepubescent girls to someone he *believed* was the father of a 13-year-old girl. The grim reality? That person was an undercover agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Duquette thought he was connecting with a predator; he was connecting with the law.

HSI agents dug deeper, posing as both the mother and father of the 13-year-old in a series of calculated online exchanges. According to court documents, Duquette chillingly admitted to previously communicating with young teenage girls and receiving sexually explicit images from them. When the agent, posing as the father, hinted at a shared interest in child pornography, Duquette willingly complied, sending the horrific images. This wasn’t a one-time lapse in judgment; it was a deliberate act of depravity.

The arrest came on April 17, 2019. A search of Duquette’s cellphone revealed a sickening cache of abuse: approximately 1,400 images of child pornography. The sheer volume speaks to the extent of his obsession and the damage he inflicted, even through passive consumption. It’s a digital graveyard of stolen innocence.

Duquette appeared before U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell on Monday and entered a guilty plea. He now faces sentencing on March 22, 2022, and will likely face a significant prison term. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terrence P. Donnelly is prosecuting the case, determined to see justice served for the victims whose lives were shattered by this man’s actions.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the dark underbelly of the internet and the predators who lurk within. HSI continues to relentlessly pursue these criminals, working to protect vulnerable children and bring them to justice. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing.