Press Release  Ipswich Man Charged with Possessing Child Pornography, Handgun with Large Capacity Magazine and Ammunition

Ipswich — An Ipswich man has been arrested and arraigned in connection with possessing child pornography and possessing a large capacity handgun, a large capacity magazine and ammunition without a license, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Robert Freeman, age 48, was arrested Wednesday in Ipswich by State Police assigned to the AG’s Office with assistance from Ipswich Police and State Police assigned to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office and the State Police Crime Services Unit.

He was arraigned Wednesday in Ipswich District Court on charges of Possession of Child Pornography (one count), Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm without a License (one count), Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device, and Possession of Ammunition without a license or FID card.

“We allege that Mr. Freeman was exploiting and victimizing children by viewing graphic images of child sex abuse and illegally keeping large capacity weapons in his home,” said AG Healey. “These are serious and disturbing crimes and we will continue to focus our efforts on going after child predators and keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people.”

At the arraignment, Freeman pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Oct. 7.

In August, the Massachusetts Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) forwarded information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to the AG’s Office concerning an email address in the Ipswich area that had allegedly uploaded child pornography. State Police linked the email address to Freeman.

State Police obtained and executed a search warrant authorizing the search of an Ipswich home linked to Freeman and any computers, tablets, media storage devices, computer hardware, computer software, computer data storage device and cell phones found in the home. Subsequent initial investigation of devices seized revealed alleged images of child pornography. Police also uncovered an unlocked large capacity handgun, a loaded large capacity magazine and ammunition in Freeman’s home. Freeman is not licensed to possess the handgun, the magazine or the ammunition.  

The investigation is ongoing. These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Allyson Portney of AG Healey’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crime Division, with assistance from Victim Witness Advocate Amber Anderson, of AG Healey’s Victim Witness Services Division. It was investigated by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Attorney General’s Office with assistance from Ipswich Police, State Police assigned to the Essex District Attorney’s Office and the State Police Crime Services Unit and investigators from the AG’s Digital Evidence Lab.

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