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Norwell Man Guilty of Child Sex Abuse

BOSTON – In a disturbing case, a 51-year-old Norwell man has pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting children.

Derek Sheehan, a former youth football coach, admitted to videotaping himself abusing three minors while they slept in his home between March 2017 and July 2018. The abuse was discovered during a search of his home on Aug. 17, 2018, when investigators seized several electronic devices containing child pornography.

Sheehan was initially charged by criminal complaint in October 2018 and later indicted by a federal grand jury. He has agreed to plead guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of children, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, as well as a fine of $250,000.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns deferred acceptance of the plea until sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled by the court. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne Paruti and Charles Dell’Anno are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to protect children from exploitation and abuse.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Plymouth County District Attorney, Cape and Islands District Attorney, Massachusetts State Police, and Norwell Police Department made the announcement today.

The case highlights the importance of vigilance in protecting children from predators. As part of Project Safe Childhood, federal, state, and local resources are marshaled to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.