A Keene resident has admitted guilt in a federal court for his involvement in the production of child sexual abuse material. Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announced that Paul Baird, aged 44, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the production of child pornography. Judge Steven J. McAuliffe has set the sentencing date for June 25, 2025.
Court documents reveal that on January 29, 2024, Baird took explicit photographs of a minor victim and uploaded these images to a dark website known for hosting such content. Investigators discovered further incriminating images and videos on Baird's phone.
At the time of his arrest, Baird was employed as a bus driver by Student Transportation of America, which serves the Contoocook Valley School District.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment with a potential maximum sentence of up to 30 years and fines reaching $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the crime.
The investigation was spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Keene Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski is handling prosecution duties.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 aimed at combating child exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts across various levels of law enforcement. More information about this initiative can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.