Western Mass. man sentenced to up to 20 years in connection with child sex abuse material

A Massachusetts man was sentenced to up to two decades in prison in connection with possession of child sex abuse materials.

Read more PWHL postpones decisive Game 5 between Montreal and Minnesota

Ryan Montpelier, a 39-year-old Montague resident, pleaded guilty Friday to three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, four counts of posing or exhibiting a child in a state of nudity, four counts of possession of CSAM, and one count of disseminating harmful material to minors. He was sentenced to 18 to 20 years, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.

It was the second offense for Montpelier, who was convicted of similar charges in 2008, authorities said.

The Hampshire/Franklin State Police Detective Unit received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an Instagram user had been requesting naked pictures from a user who identified herself as a 13-year-old girl, according to prosecutors.

Read more 2 $200K lottery prizes claimed in Mass. from this new game on Monday

Based on that tip, the state police obtained a search warrant for Montpelier’s digital accounts. A search revealed Montpelier was collecting CSAM and creating new CSAM with at least two children, a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old.

Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Jimenez said in a statement that Montpelier’s sentence was appropriate.

“The harm inflicted upon the children depicted in the images and videos collected by the defendant, as well as those he created himself, is immeasurable and cannot be undone,” Jimenez said.

Read more Worcester airport director to retire after 18 years