A member of the Massachusetts National Guard has been arrested and charged with allegedly possessing and distributing child pornography.
BOSTON (WWLP) – A member of the Massachusetts National Guard has been arrested and charged with allegedly possessing and distributing child pornography.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston, Nicholas Wells, 43, is a Master Sergeant of the 102 Security Forces of the Massachusetts National Guard stationed in Sandwich, Mass.
Investigators say that Wells used chats through a messaging app on his phone to talk about his interest in minors and also shared child pornography videos. A search of the account and his phone uncovered over 300 images and 100 videos of child pornography and evidence that he allegedly shared over 70 videos depicting child pornography.
Wells was arrested on Thursday and was brought before a federal judge in Boston where he agreed to voluntary detention pending trial without prejudice. If found guilty on all charges, Wells could face up to 40 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
Local News Headlines
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.