Press Release  Walpole Man Arrested, Arraigned For Possessing Child Pornography

Boston — A Walpole man has been arrested and arraigned in connection with allegedly possessing child pornography on his personal computer kept at his home and in his state office, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Michael Kickham, age 53, was arrested Tuesday by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office and Walpole Police. He was arraigned today in Boston Municipal Court on one count of Possession of Child Pornography. Kickham is an employee in the Administrative Office of the Massachusetts Juvenile Court. In his position as Implementation Coordinator in the Administrative Office of the Juvenile Court, Kickham did not have contact with children.

At the arraignment, Kickham pleaded not guilty to the charge. Judge Horgan released Kickham subject to the following conditions:  the conditions that he be monitored via GPS, have no contact with victims, surrender his passport, be prohibited from leaving the state without prior approval, have no computer or Internet access except for employment, have no contact with children under the age of 18 and stay away from schools, parks and any other places where children congregate.

He is due back in Boston Municipal Court on March 22 for a pre-trial hearing.

Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office began an investigation in October 2015 after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an email account that was allegedly viewing child pornography.  Investigators traced the email address to Kickham.

On Jan. 26, State Police assigned to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office obtained and executed a search warrant authorizing the search of all computers and storage devices found in Kickham’s Walpole residence and on Jan. 27 they executed one authorizing the search of all computers and storage devices at his office in the Administrative Office of the Juvenile Court. Subsequent initial investigation of devices seized revealed alleged images of child pornography.

Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office with assistance from Walpole Police arrested Kickham Tuesday without incident.

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 Tom Ralph, Senior Trial Counsel for AG Healey’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crime Division.  It was investigated by the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Attorney General’s Office, Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office,  and investigators from the AG’s Digital Evidence Lab, with assistance from Walpole Police.

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