For Immediate Release: April 16, 2008                               
Contact: Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia 781-897-8325

Bail Increased To $25,000 For Waltham Man Arrested Last Week On Child Pornography Charges
Defendant Involved In Waltham Pop Warner, Boy Scouts, And North Waltham Little League

WALTHAM – Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today that bail has been increased from $2,000 to $25,000 for a Waltham man who was arrested and arraigned last week on child pornography charges.

James Aucoin, 46, of Waltham, was arraigned on Friday in Waltham District Court on charges of possession of child pornography and distributing material of a child in a sexual act. Waltham District Court Judge Tobin Harvey set $2,000 cash bail at that time. The Commonwealth had requested a $25,000 cash bail. Today, at a pretrial conference, Judge Harvey agreed with the Commonwealth’s request to set $25,000 cash bail.

The conditions that were set at Friday’s arraignment also remain, including that the defendant have no contact with non-family members 18 years old or younger, have no access to or use of computers, that he be placed on a GPS bracelet, and that he sever all associations with North Waltham Baseball, Waltham Pop Warner, and the Boy Scouts

The defendant is believed to have been involved as a Boy Scout leader and as a coach in both Waltham Pop Warner and North Waltham Little League.

“We take all instances of alleged child exploitation extremely seriously,” District Attorney Leone said. “We will continue to pursue this case in a way that we believe will best protect the people of our communities.”

In March, Waltham Police were contacted by a Keene, New Hampshire Police Officer. The officer stated that he had been conducting an online sting in which he had been posing as a 14-year-old boy. That undercover officer had engaged in several online conversations with a person later identified as the defendant. During those conversations, the defendant is alleged to have distributed to the undercover officer child pornography images and videos.

On April 1, Waltham Police applied for and were granted a search warrant to seize any computer systems and electronic storage devices at the residence of the defendant. An analysis of the defendant’s computer found multiple images of naked children posing and engaged in sexual activities.

These charges are allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The hearing was handled today by Assistant District Attorney Darina Belot and the case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Chinman. The case is being investigated by Waltham Police, Keene (NH) Police, and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Child Abuse Unit.

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