Michael Chapman, Child Pornography, Massachusetts 2019

A Worcester man has been convicted of possessing child pornography in a federal court case.

Michael Chapman, 62, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography in U.S. District Court in Worcester.

The charges stem from images of child pornography uploaded to Chapman's Skype account on July 2 and 3, 2017, and from a computer seized during a search warrant on October 6, 2017.

Chapman is a registered Level 3 sex offender due to multiple prior convictions, including indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, transporting a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, rape of a child, and lewd and lascivious acts.

The charge provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

Due to prior convictions, Chapman faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 19, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett is prosecuting the case.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Jason Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Field Division; Massachusetts State Police Superintendent Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/worcester-man-pleads-guilty-child-pornography-offenses