Former State Police Captain Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

BELCHERTOWN — A retired Massachusetts State Police detective has been arrested and charged for allegedly possessing child pornography, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Francis Hart, 60, of Amherst, was arraigned today in Eastern Hampshire District Court on two counts of child pornography possession.

State police from the Cyber Crimes Unit and the AG's Office began investigating Hart in January.

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According to the AG's Office, the investigation started after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children told authorities that Hart's email address had uploaded a file containing numerous images of suspected child pornography.

Hart was arrested Thursday at his Amherst home.

During a search of the premises, police seized various digital devices that were later allegedly found to contain child pornography images.

Hart pleaded not guilty and was released on $2,500 cash bail with the conditions that he have no contact with any child under the age of 18, and have no internet access other than on public devices that ban illegal sites or illegal content.

He will be back in court on Oct. 22 for a pretrial conference.

The investigation is ongoing.

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