David Cannon, Sex Trafficking and Child Pornography, Massachusetts 2023

A Lexington man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempting to pay for sex with a 14-year-old girl and possessing child pornography.

David Cannon, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Dennis F. Saylor IV on [no specific date mentioned, but implied to be after November 2023] in Boston, Massachusetts.

Cannon pleaded guilty in November 2023 to one count of attempted sex trafficking of a child and one count of possession of child pornography.

“Individuals like Cannon drive the demand for sex trafficking of children. Those who seek to pay for sex with kids must be seriously punished so that the message resonates that there are grave consequences for engaging in such deplorable conduct,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy also stated, “This office is committed to prosecuting human trafficking from all angles — the individuals who traffic innocent girls and the men who drive demand for such services.”

Cannon had previously been convicted for crimes against a child and was just off probation when he was arrested by HSI for attempting to pay to sexually abuse a minor. When he arrived at the hotel to commit this crime, he was met by an undercover HSI special agent instead of a child sex trafficker. Lubricant and condoms were subsequently found in Cannon’s vehicle.

Additionally, a search of Cannon’s cell phone revealed dozens of photographs and videos depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) as well as text messages discussing his affinity for CSAM. At sentencing, Cannon was also ordered to pay $17,500 in restitution to the victims whose child sexual abuse material he possessed.

Cannon was a registered sex offender, having been convicted in 2019 of indecent assault of an 11-year-old child on three separate occasions.

If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/registered-sex-offender-lexington-sentenced-15-years-prison-attempting-purchase-sex