Keene Couple Arrested for the Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

CONCORD – A Keene couple has been charged in connection with their production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Paul Baird, 43, of Keene and Krystal Baird, 38, of Keene were charged by complaint for the production of child pornography.  Paul Baird and Krystal Baird appeared in federal court today.

According to the charging documents, as early as November 2023, Paul Baird was observed on a dark web chat site dedicated to CSAM of girls from four to fourteen years old. On March 7, 2024, Paul Baird posted links to three CSAM images to the website. A search of Paul Baird and his residence in Keene, New Hampshire earlier today led to the arrests of Paul and Krystal Baird for the production of child sexual abuse material.

At the time of his arrest, Paul Baird was employed as a bus driver by the Student Transportation of America, which is a school transportation company that services the Contoocook Valley (ConVal) School District.

This investigation is ongoing. Members of the public who have information regarding this case should call the Homeland Security Investigations’ New England Field Division’s Manchester Office at 603-629-2716.

The Homeland Security Investigations is leading the investigation. The Keene Police Department is providing valuable assistance with this investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski 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 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/.

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

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