David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Colonel Danny R. Stebbins of the Connecticut State Police announced that DAVID L. BOURQUE, 50, of West Suffield, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with possession of child pornography. BOURQUE is a captain with the Granby Police Department.
The criminal complaint alleges that, on two occasions in March 2011, a Connecticut State Police trooper assigned to the Connecticut State Police Computer Crimes Unit, acting in an undercover capacity, logged into a publicly available Internet file sharing program and downloaded several images of suspected child pornography from an account maintained by BOURQUE. On April 11, 2011, members of the Connecticut State Police were given consent to search BOURQUE’s office and work computers at the Granby Police Department. The search of BOURQUE’s office revealed a laptop and other computer components, including an external hard drive, that were personally owned by BOURQUE. These items, most of which were encrypted, were seized pursuant to a state search warrant. The State Police also executed a state search warrant at BOURQUE’s residence.
Preliminary analysis of one of BOURQUE’s encrypted hard drives has revealed thousands of images and videos of child pornography.
Today, BOURQUE surrendered to law enforcement and appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Thomas P. Smith in Hartford. After signing a $150,000 non-surety bond, which was cosigned by his wife, BOURQUE was directed by Judge Smith to return to a hospital where he has recently been receiving medical care. Following his health care treatment, BOURQUE will be subject to several conditions of release, including that he receive mental health counseling, have no internet access, have no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18 without first receiving permission from the United States Probation Office, and that he not hold any position of authority or guidance over children or youth groups involving children who are under the age of 18. BOURQUE also must not loiter around schools, playgrounds, arcades, or any other places where children under 18 congregate.
If convicted of the charge of possession of child pornography, BOURQUE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by the Connecticut State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ray Miller.
U.S. Attorney Fein noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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