Patrick Baxter, Child Pornography Offenses, Massachusetts 2021

BOSTON — A Melrose man has been indicted for his involvement in child pornography offenses. Patrick Baxter, 42, was charged with possession and receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to the indictment, Baxter downloaded CSAM from the internet on three occasions in June and July 2021. A computer hard drive seized during a search of Baxter’s residence was allegedly found to contain approximately 427 video files depicting CSAM.

Baxter will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. He was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint in December 2022. The indictment marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation.

The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and the Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Melrose Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Patrick Baxter, 42, of Melrose, Massachusetts, was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography. The charges were announced by United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins, Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, and the Melrose Police Department.

Defendant Information:

Defendant Name: Patrick Baxter

Age: 42

Address: Melrose, Massachusetts

Charges:

Count 1: Receipt of Child Pornography

Count 2: Possession of Child Pornography

City and State: Melrose, Massachusetts

Date: June and July 2021

Sentence: To be determined

Fine: Up to $250,000

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/melrose-man-indicted-child-pornography-offenses