New Hampshire Man Charged With Coercing A Minor

BOSTON – A New Hampshire man was charged today with attempting to coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity.

Karl W. Leeman, 46, of Milford, N.H., has been indicted on charges that he induced and coerced, and attempted to induce and coerce, a minor to engage in sexual activity.

In February 2014, Homeland Security Investigations undercover agents in Boston placed an advertisement on Craigslist purportedly as a mother seeking an adult interested in a “taboo relationship” with her daughter. Leeman responded that he was interested, even after the purported mother disclosed that the daughter was only 14-years-old. Leeman proceeded to engage in more than 650 email communications with the purported mother, detailing the sexual activities in which he would engage with the minor “daughter.” On Feb. 27, Leeman traveled from his place of work in Acton, Mass. to Watertown for the purpose of having sex with a minor. Upon his arrival at the designated meeting place, he was arrested by HSI agents. At the time of his arrest, Leeman was carrying alcohol, bath products, lubricant, and gifts of clothing for the minor.

If convicted, Leeman faces a statutory mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison, a minimum of five years and a maximum of a lifetime of supervised released, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistance was also provided by HSI Manchester, the Massachusetts State Police, the Watertown Police Department and the Milford, N.H. Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Eve A. Piemonte Stacey of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.

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

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 Criminal Division=s CEOS, 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/.