Andover Man Indicted For Receiving Child Pornography

Boston - An Andover man was indicted today on child pornography charges.

William S. Thomas, 64, was charged in an indictment with seven counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The indictment alleges that on various dates in 2011, Thomas knowingly received films depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The items were seized from Thomas’ home during the execution of a federal search warrant in September 2012.

If convicted, Thomas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison on the receipt of child pornography charges and up to 10 years in prison on the possession of child pornography charge. Thomas also faces up to a lifetime of supervised release and a $500,000 fine on each count.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Kevin Niland, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Chief Brian J. Pattullo of the Andover Police Department made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz’s Major Crimes 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.