Fall River Woman Guilty of Sexually Exploiting Kids She Babysat

BOSTON — A Fall River woman has pleaded guilty to federal child sexual exploitation charges after filming herself sexually abusing a toddler she was babysitting, as well as another victim.

Nichole Cyr, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of children in federal court on Thursday, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Cyr was indicted in November 2020 for producing child porn after sexually victimizing a two-year-old child and a seven-year-old child that she had babysat multiple times, and capturing the abuse on camera.

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She was arrested in July 2020 after authorities found child sexual abuse material — including images and videos — on her cell phones.

Forensic analysis of the phones showed material involving a two-year-old victim and a seven-year-old victim, including videos and photos of Cyr abusing the toddler on different dates.

Cyr had also shared the child porn she produced with another person, 51-year-old Paul Weddington of Malden, who pleaded guilty to child porn charges and was sentenced to serve 12 years in prison earlier this year.

The U.S. Attorney's Office, Bristol District Attorney Thomas Quinn, Fall River Police Chief Paul Gauvin and New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira announced Cyr's plea agreement on Thursday.

She faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 20.

"Today, Ms. Cyr admitted to some of the most egregious conduct that my office prosecutes," U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said. "She sexually victimized two children in her life — one that was only a toddler — captured the abuse on camera, and then shared the horrific material."

"This predator is now a convicted felon facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison," Rollins added. "My office will continue to use every tool in our arsenal to investigate and prosecute those who prey on and sexualize our children."

Cyr's case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006.