Boy Scout Leader Charged with Child Pornography

BOSTON – A Boy Scout leader and YMCA employee was charged today with possessing child pornography.

Patrick Lynch, 22, of Peabody, was arrested on Dec. 12, 2014, and made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Boston on charges that he received and possessed child pornography.

The criminal complaint alleges that Lynch received emails containing child pornography beginning in May 2013.  An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations revealed that Lynch was affiliated with the Boy Scouts, including a position as a Scout leader at the Philmont Training Center for the Boy Scouts of America.  Lynch had also been employed at the Greater Beverly YMCA and had recently begun employment with Beanstalk Adventure Ropes Course in Reading.

The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum term of five years and no greater than 20 years in prison.  The charge of possession of child pornography provides for no greater than 20 years in prison.  Both statutes provide for a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today.  Assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Peabody Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Eve A. Piemonte Stacey of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.

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 better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.

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