Judge Sets Bail for Newton Man Arrested For Child Porn At $5k, Orders GPS Bracelet

NEWTON, MA — The judge presiding at the arraignment of the Newton man who was arrested last week and charged with possession and dissemination of child pornography set his bail at $5,000 cash, the same day, the Middlesex District Attorney's office said today in a statement.

Joseph Tiberio, 48, of Newton was arraigned on June 7, 2017 and charged with possession of child pornography and dissemination of child pornography, said the DA's office in a statement.

"Judge Mary Heffernan set bail at $5,000 cash and ordered the defendant to wear a GPS monitoring bracelet, to observe a curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., to have no contact with children under the age of 18 and to not use the internet," said the DA's office.

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The next scheduled hearing in this case is July 5.

The FBI Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force executed a search warrant on June 7 at Tiberio's home, based on an investigation, said the District Attorney's office. Newton Police and the FBI Task Force went to the home, searched Tiberio's phone and allegedly saw photos and videos depicting child pornography.

According to the FBI's website, child sexual exploitation investigations—many of them undercover—are conducted in FBI field offices by Child Exploitation Task Forces, which combine the resources of the FBI with those of other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

FBI agents and task force officers go online using fake screen names and chat or e-mail with subjects in order to obtain evidence of criminal activity. Investigation of specific online locations can be initiated through citizen complaints, an online service provider, a referral from a law enforcement agency; or finding the name of the online location (such as a chat room) that suggests illicit activity, according to the FBI.

These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the Attorney General's office said. The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Rachel Perlman.

Read the original story: Newton Man Arrested here.

Photo of Newton Police Cruiser by Jenna Fisher/Patch