A Western Massachusetts man and former editor of a political news site has been charged with possessing and distributing child sex abuse images, according to the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office.
Slade Sohmer, of East Otis, pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of dissemination of child pornography during his arraignment in Southern Berkshire District Court on Monday, according to The Berkshire Eagle.
The 44-year-old, who is the former editor-in-chief of the news site The Recount, was released on $100,000 bail on Nov. 13, the outlet said.
Sohmer was ordered to have no internet access, provide mandatory location notification to probation and have no contact with children under the age of 18, according to the district attorney’s office.
An investigation into Sohmer’s actions was launched after authorities got a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on June 16.
Authorities confiscated Sohmer’s cellphones and other electronic devices when they searched his home on Oct. 17, the office said. The former editor was arrested at his home last Friday, The Berkshire Eagle added.
While scanning the devices, investigators found more than 1,000 files, hundreds of which were child sex abuse images and videos. The images included the rape of minors as young as 3 to 4-years-old.
Officials said at least one child sex abuse video was produced by Sohmer.
Aside from what was found on Sohmer’s devices, the district attorney’s office said more sex abuse material was sent through apps like Telegram Messenger and Snapchat.
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In 2021, Sohmer was talking to another person through Telegram Messenger about “how to lure, kidnap and rape children,” the office said.
Some messages went into detail about how to rape a child. The two also sent child sex abuse videos and images to each other, according to officials.
Authorities expect the former editor to face more charges after they finish processing the devices, the office said. The investigation is ongoing.
