A Wareham man was arrested by federal agents Tuesday and charged with possession of child pornography. David St. Jacques, 56, has already appeared before a judge and a detention hearing was scheduled for Oct. 5.

Federal agents executed a search of St. Jacques’s residence yesterday morning and seized a computer, three phones, and one thumb drive, according to the Office of U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. It is alleged that St. Jacques destroyed at least two other drives and attempted to destroy one of his phones when agents arrived to execute the warrant.

Lelling's office says that St. Jacques admitted to exchanging child pornography with other individuals on various chatting applications, and says agents located child pornography during an on-scene review of devices that were still intact.

If convicted, St. Jacques could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, many years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Back in March 2009, St. Jacques was convicted in Plymouth County Superior Court of several counts of dissemination and possession of child pornography.

Lelling joined Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Field Division, in making today's announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.

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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 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 criminal complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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