Greenfield man Derek Lecompte, 26, has agreed to plead guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a child, admitting he groomed and photographed a 10-year-old boy in a predatory scheme that spanned online and physical spaces. The guilty plea, entered yesterday in U.S. District Court in Springfield, marks a grim milestone in a case that exposed the vulnerability of children to manipulation by trusted adults.
Lecompte admitted in court filings that he befriended the young victim under false pretenses, gaining access to his life before producing sexually explicit images. He then uploaded those images to the internet, where they circulated among illicit networks. Federal prosecutors say the digital trail was extensive, with forensic analysis uncovering hidden files, encrypted uploads, and metadata linking Lecompte directly to the abuse.
The charges carry a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years, along with a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of registration as a sex offender. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Lecompte is set to receive the minimum 15-year sentence and 10 years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for March 30, 2017, before U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni.
The investigation was a joint effort between federal and local authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Field Division, the Greenfield Police Department, and the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, whose office led the prosecution, called the crime “a betrayal of innocence” and praised the collaboration that brought Lecompte to justice.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Ortiz’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case, which was brought under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice, the initiative targets individuals who exploit children through digital platforms, combining federal, state, and local law enforcement to track, arrest, and convict offenders.
Project Safe Childhood has led to thousands of arrests nationwide, but cases like Lecompte’s reveal the persistent threat posed by predators who exploit trust and technology. For more information on the program and how to report suspected child exploitation, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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