7 NH Men, 3 From MA Busted On Computer Sex Charges

NASHUA, NH — The New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (NH ICAC) conducted a multi-agency sting operation and ensnared 12 men on felony certain uses of computer services prohibited charges. Some were also arrested on attempted aggravated felonious sexual assault and indecent exposure and lewdness charges. The accused were arrested after the task force conducted its “Operation Cyber Guardian,” to target those individuals “intent to sexually exploit children through the use of technology and the internet,” between May 21, and May 23, 2019.

The NH ICAC accused the 12 men, 11 from New England, of traveling to prearranged locations for the purpose of meeting and having sexual contact with a minor.

Seven of the men were from New Hampshire:

• Jeremy Stinson, 28, of Penacook, was arrested and charged with felony certain uses of computer services prohibited.
• Kushal Shah, 20, of Nashua, was charged with felony certain uses of computer services prohibited.
• David Martin, 39, also of Nashua, was charged with felony certain uses of computer services prohibited.
• Paul Pratte, 51, of Merrimack, was charged with felony certain uses of computer services prohibited.
• Julius DeNitto, 58, of Hudson, was charged with felony certain uses of computer services prohibited.
• Richard Balla, 31, of Charlestown, was charged with felony certain uses of computer services prohibited and attempted aggravated felonious sexual assault, also a felony.
• Jake Clarke, 33, of Newport, was charged with felony certain uses of computer services prohibited and attempted aggravated felonious sexual assault.

Three men from Massachusetts were also charged. They included Keith Colantonio, 37, of Milford, MA, who was charged with felony certain uses of computer services prohibited. Also arrested was Samuel Da Silva, 41, of Chelsea, MA, who was charged with felony certain uses of computer services prohibited. Alex Kinney, 28, of North Chelmsford, MA, was arrested and charged with felony certain uses of computer services prohibited and two counts of indecent exposure and lewdness, both felonies.

One man – David Kendall, 25, of White River Junction, VT, was arrested on a felony certain uses of computer services prohibited charge and attempted felonious sexual assault.

Another man – Casely Schandorf, 42, of Laurel, MD, was also charged with felony certain uses of computer services prohibited.

Investigators limited the amount of information released about the operation.

The planning for the investigation took many months. Nine men were arrested in Nashua and three were arrested in Lebanon. At least one is being held on bail. Investigators would not comment on the social media sites the accused were using to allegedly communicate with children but described them as “social media apps” that were used.

“Predators are forewarned that we will use all of our resources available to make sure there is no safe place to hide for those who would victimize children,” noted Sgt. John Peracchi, the commander of the NH ICAC and a member of the Portsmouth Police Department.

Peracchi called the current arrests “alarming” and also warned that they “only scratched the surface” when it comes to the dangers for children online.

Nashua, Lebanon, and Portsmouth police departments, Cheshire, Grafton, Strafford county sheriff’s departments, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service were all involved in the investigation.

Editor's note: This post was derived from info supplied by NH ICAC. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for New Hampshire’s Patch police reports.