BOSTON – A Westfield man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal
court in Springfield to child pornography charges.
Stephen Cote, 48, pleaded guilty to three counts of receipt
of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography and one
count of offering to receive child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Mark
G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Dec. 18, 2019. Cote was indicted in
January 2016, and he has been detained since his arrest on July 20, 2018.
On various occasions between April 30, 2013, and May 31,
2015, Cote sent and received child pornography by text and email, and also
offered to receive child pornography. Cote exchanged child pornography with
Bruce Singer, who was sentenced on July 19, 2019, to 96 months in prison for
various child pornography offenses. During the course of Cote and Singer’s
electronic communications, they discussed their shared interest in the sexual
abuse of children.
The charges of receipt and distribution of child pornography
each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a lifetime of
supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of seeking and offering
to receive child pornography provides for a sentence of no greater than 30
years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
According to the terms of the plea agreement, the Government will recommend a
sentence of 15 years in prison. Sentences are imposed by a federal district
court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory
factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R.
Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Boston Field Division; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the
Massachusetts State Police; Northampton Police Chief Jody Kasper; and
Easthampton Police Chief Robert Alberti made the announcement today. Assistant
U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is
prosecuting the case.
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