CONCORD – Charles Paul Jansen, 36, of Pittsfield, was sentenced on Tuesday to 97 months in federal prison for distribution of child pornography, United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 11, 2020, an undercover officer (UC) was conducting an investigation on Kik in an attempt to identify individuals using the platform to exchange child sexual abuse material. Kik is a social media platform that facilitates communication by users over the internet. The UC identified an individual who posted an image to a Kik group devoted to the exchange of child sexual abuse material. Further investigation indicated identified Jansen as the individual who posted the image. A search warrant was executed at his residence in Pittsfield. During a voluntary interview, Jansen admitted using Kik and other online applications to view, download, and store pornographic images, some of which contained child sexual abuse material. Jansen also admitted to committing contact sexual offenses against two children.
Jansen previously pleaded guilty on October 8, 2021. After serving his prison sentence, he will be on supervised release for 5 years.
“Child pornography crimes are particularly harmful offenses that cause incalculable damage to young victims,” said U.S. Attorney Farley. “While distributing child sexual abuse material is a serious crime, this defendant’s behavior was even more egregious because he admitted to sexually abusing two children. This substantial sentence holds Mr. Jansen accountable for his conduct and ensures that he cannot harm any more children. To protect the safety of innocent children, we work closely with the FBI and our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute the predators who prey on children and distribute child pornography so they cannot cause more harm in our community.”
“Charles Jansen is a predator who admitted to sexually abusing two children, and using online platforms to view, download, and share images of child sexual abuse. What he did is absolutely despicable, and he is without a doubt, a serious danger to the community. While today’s sentence will keep him behind bars for quite some time, it will never make up for the lifetime of painful memories and harm he has inflicted on his victims and their families,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Cases like this one fuel the FBI’s commitment to identify, investigate, and hold others like him accountable.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsfield Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland.
In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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