FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SAMANTHA MARTIN
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2007 PHONE: (617) 748-3139
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CHARLTON MAN ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

WORCESTER, MA - A Charlton man was arrested on a federal complaint yesterday charging him with possession of child pornography announced United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New England.

TOBIAS PARENT, 37, of 298 North Sturbridge Road, Charlton, Massachusetts was arrested yesterday morning on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. PARENT owns and operates “Kids Time to Go, Inc.” a business that provides entertainment to children.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, it is alleged that a 2005 federal investigation in Wisconsin resulted in the seizure of a computer in Green Bay that was used for uploading and downloading child pornography over the Internet. According to the affidavit a forensic examination of the computer identified numerous Internet IP addresses from which child pornography was uploaded to and/or downloaded from. It is alleged that one such IP address belonged to PARENT. It is alleged that a forensic search of PARENT’s laptop revealed the presence of videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

PARENT appeared in federal court in Worcester yesterday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy S. Hillman. He was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond. Other conditions of release set by Magistrate Judge Hillman included that PARENT seek employment where he will have no contact with children; that he have no unsupervised contact with children, other than his own; and that he have no Internet access except as may be necessary to look for employment. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for March 28, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. If convicted, PARENT faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hennessy, Chief of Sullivan’s Worcester Office.

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