Child Porn Suspect Took Photos While Chaperoning Field Trip: Feds

BURLINGTON, MA -- A Burlington man who was already facing child pornography charges in Middlesex County was arrested on federal charges Thursday. William Gates, 41, a former civilian employee at Hanscom Air Force Base, is accused of possessing more than 3,000 computer files depicting child pornography, including a manual titled, "How to Practice Child Love."

The charges come on top of a March indictment by a Middlesex County grand jury. According to federal court documents, Australian authorities notified U.S. law enforcement officials last November after seeing a user traced to Burlington post photos on a website, including photos of a six-year-old boy on a school bus. During a December interview, Gates told federal investigators he had taken some of the photographs while chaperoning a field trip to the zoo with his son’s elementary school.

Burlington Public Schools Superintendent Eric Conti said Gates had been issued a no-trespass order for all school property when Burlington Police notified the school department about the investigation in January. Conti said Gates had also undergone the standard background check required for school volunteers before he was allowed to chaperone the field trip.

"While forensics are ongoing, at this time there is no evidence the local children mentioned from the field trip have been depicted in child pornography photos," Conti said in a note sent to parents and staff Thursday evening. "If such evidence arises, the families will be notified by the Burlington Police Department. The families of the children in the photos mentioned have all been contacted by the Burlington Police Department."

Gates was arraigned Thursday and held pending the outcome of a detention hearing scheduled for Thursday. The U.S. Attorney's office said people with questions, concerns, or information regarding the case should call 617-748-3274.

Gates was also a Cub Scout leader. Boy Scouts of America issued a statement when he was initially charged in March.

"This behavior is abhorrent and runs counter to everything for which the Boy Scouts of America stands," the statement said. "While these allegations appear unrelated to Scouting, upon learning of these reports we took immediate action to remove this individual and prohibit him from any future participation in our programs."

Authorities executed a search warrant in January and found more than 900 files on his computer and digital devices. That search led to the charges by the Middlesex District Attorney's office. Last week while conducting further forensic analysis, investigators found and additional 2,900 images, 70 videos and a document titled, "How to Practice Child Love," a how-to guide for adults that want to have sex with children.

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Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).