Law enforcement

Man, Woman Charged With Child Pornography, Sexual Exploitation of Infant

Two Massachusetts residents have been charged in connection with various child pornography offenses, including the sexual exploitation of an infant, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Wednesday.

Authorities said Thomas Cross, 28, of Amesbury, and Desiree Daigle, 23, of Salisbury, were arrested on Nov. 15. Cross was charged with possession, receipt, and distribution of child pornography. Daigle was charged with sexually exploiting a child.

According to court documents, a search warrant was executed on Nov. 15 at Cross' home where authorities seized several electronic devices.

Authorities said upon reviewing the devices at the scene, law enforcement observed files containing child pornography, as well as chats between Cross and a person identified as Daigle, in which various child pornography files were exchanged.

Some of the images seized reportedly depicted an infant known to Daigle and were apparently taken in Daigle's home. Court documents allege that in the course of the online chat, Cross and Daigle discussed plans for Cross to meet the child in person so they could sexually abuse the child together.

Both Cross and Daigle admitted to exchanging child pornography with each other, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Daigle appeared in federal court on Nov. 19 and was ordered detained pending a trial. Cross appeared in federal court for a hearing on Nov. 20 when a U.S. District Court magistrate took the matter of detention under advisement.

It's unclear if Cross or Daigle have attorneys or when their next court appearances will be.

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