Wakefield Social Worker Arraigned on Child Porn Charges

A Wakefield social worker was arraigned in Woburn District Court on Thursday on charges of human trafficking of a child under 18 years of age, enticement of a child under 18 years of age, enticement of a child by electronic communication, posing a child in a state of nudity.

In August, the Reading Police Department began an investigation of Rick Hall, 34, who owns North Shore Recovery Management in Reading.

I The defendant had allegedly begun communicating electronically with three 15-year-old girls, who live out of state, and enticed them to exchange pornographic images of themselves for compensation, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office.

The Division of Professional Licensure has suspended Hall’s license pending an investigation and a hearing.

Judge Timothy Gailey set bail at $100,000 cash and ordered Hall to have no contact with the victims, to not use the internet or use a smart phone to access the internet, to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18, to not work with, or volunteer with anyone under the age of 18, and to surrender his passport. The next scheduled hearing in this case is Thursday, Nov. 5.

“As a social worker, the defendant was mandated by statute to report any form of child abuse,” said District Attorney Marian Ryan. “Instead, the defendant allegedly violated the ethical standards of his position by exploiting minors, and exchanged money for lewd photographs. During this investigation, law enforcement agencies from Middlesex County and Oregon came together in order to stop the defendant’s alleged exploitation of children.”

Wakefield Chief of Police Richard Smith said that this is a perfect example of law enforcement partners working together not only across the county, but across our nation to allow us to bring Hall in front of the court.

“There is no place in our communities for the behavior Mr. Hall is accused of,” Smith said.

The Reading Police Department, the Wakefield Police Department, the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety, Josephine County District Attorney’s Office, and the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office are investigating this incident.

“The charges brought forward yesterday stemming from the exploitation of children are extremely troubling as far too many of our youth continue to fall prey to sexual predators,” said Reading Police Chief James Cormier. “I would encourage all parents to monitor their children’s activities on the Internet, including their social media activities. As helpful as the World Wide Web is, it is also fraught with dangers for our children. I would like to commend the collaborative efforts of Reading, Massachusetts Police Department Detective Derek Holmes, Grants Pass, Oregon Police Department Detective Archie Lidey, and the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office for their cooperative efforts to stop this child predator.”

These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, according to the district attorney’s office.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Marisa Tagliareni. The Victim Witness Advocate is Beth Lane.

Image via Psychology Today