A 30-year-old Haverhill man stands accused of sexual contact with a three-year-old girl he was babysitting on Easter Day in New York, taking a photograph of the act and distributing it over the internet.
Michael McCann, 30, of 80 Munroe St., was arrested by Haverhill Police Wednesday, just before 4 p.m. After receiving a warrant, police and the FBI searched his home and vehicle and charged him with sexual exploitation of a child.
Investigation of McCann, however, began as early as January when a Faulkner County, Ark., Sheriff’s undercover officer purportedly received a message from McCann, McCann, using a Canadian-based website, allegedly expressed interest in traveling to Arkansas to have sex with an underage child there, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Faulkner County Sheriff’s office continued to exchange messages with McCann, receiving one April 16 indicating the Haverhill man sexually abused a three-year-old girl that day. Two days later, McCann sent a sexually explicit photograph from the incident, according to an FBI affidavit filed in U.S. District Court for New York’s northern district. McCann, who reportedly said he had other photographs with the girl, said he wasn’t afraid the child would reveal the incident because her eyes were closed and “she doesn’t talk that well.”
The sheriff’s office notified FBI officials in Little Rock, Ark., who in turn informed FBI agents in New York and Massachusetts.
The FBI and New York State Police tracked down the home and family where the incident took place and interviewed the mother last Monday, according to the court papers. The mother confirmed the child in the image was hers and that McCann had visited April 15, 16 and 17. The child also disclosed during the police interview, McCann brushed her teeth but the “toothbrush” was bigger than the one her parents use and it hurt her mouth.
A U.S. District Court judge in Boston issued the warrant to search McCann, his home and vehicle. McCann reportedly confirmed for police he had taken the photograph and distributed it over the internet.
As a Christian woman I find this one of the most DISGUSTING and horrifics crimes. I was molested as a child and the effects were farreaching. May the Lord bless this child and keep her. Punish the man. Love this child.
I hope he pulls a Hernandez.
I’m someone who typically believes in the rule of law, constitutional rights….innocent until proven guilty. However, I also believe that once that is done, someone who commits an act like this should be strapped in old sparky and electrocuted until they turn into charcoal.