A Chicopee man, Carl Norton, Jr., 37, faces charges for transferring obscene material to a minor, whom he believed to be a 12-year-old female victim. Norton was arrested on April 11, 2025, and after an initial court appearance in Springfield, he awaits a detention hearing on April 16, 2025.
The charging documents indicate that Norton exchanged numerous Snapchat messages, images, and videos with the minor between February and June 2024. Allegedly, Norton sent media files depicting adult pornography, many of which appeared to be self-produced. He also reportedly requested nude photos and videos from the minor and sought to meet her multiple times, offering to pay for her travel and arrange hotel accommodations. In his messages, Norton allegedly described in detail the sexual acts he intended to engage in with the minor.
Norton, a Level 3 sex offender, has prior convictions for attempted rape of a minor and unlawful contact with a minor. The charge he now faces could lead to a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing will follow the guidelines and statutes outlined by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Boston Division, James Crowley, announced the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Barnico, Jr., from the Springfield Branch Office, is responsible for the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative from 2006 addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse. It utilizes federal, state, and local resources to apprehend offenders and protect victims. For more details, visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The details in the charging documents are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.