BOSTON - A Chicopee man was charged today in federal court with sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
Joseph Hiersche, 39, was charged in a nine count indictment alleging that between March 2010 and March 2012, he used minors to attempt to produce child pornography and that he received and possessed child pornography.
If convicted, Hiersche faces up to 30 years in prison for each count of sexual exploitation of a chid; up to 20 years in prison for receipt of child pornography; and up to10 years in prison for possession of child pornography, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release and a $2.25 million fine.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Mark G. Mastroianni, Hampden County District Attorney; Colonel Marian McGovern, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner William Fitchet of the Springfield Police Department; and Chief John R. Ferraro, Jr. of the Chicopee Police Department made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Ortiz’s Springfield Branch Unit.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
