Sandown Teen Arrested On 7 Child Sex Abuse Image Charges

DERRY, NH — A Sandown teen was arrested on numerous child sex abuse image charges after an investigation by a detective in Derry after law enforcement received a cyber tip from Microsoft.

According to a detective, the New Hampshire Crimes Against Children Task Force received a tip in August 2020 about a request for a photo on BingImage, a service that provides similar images to an image provided by a user of the service. The detective eyed the Internet protocol address of the suspected user and the image, which was of a young, naked girl. The IP address was connected to Comcast and the detective requested a search warrant application for the address which led police to an apartment on Allen Street in Sandown.

In early December 2020, the detective requested a search warrant of the apartment and seized an iPhone from Kyle McDowell, 18. During the seizure, the detective wrote, "McDowell admitted to having possession of the child sexual abuse images." Another iPhone, with a cracked screen, and a laptop computer were also seized, the report stated.

"(The) detective forensically examined both cell phones and the Asus laptop and found numerous images of child sex abuse on the devices," an affidavit stated.

On March 4, a warrant was issued for McDowell's arrest on seven counts of felony child sex abuse image; buy, etc. charges. He was arrested on March 9 and held on preventative detention. After being arraigned, McDowell's bond was set at $2,000 cash. He is due back in Rockingham County Superior Court on a dispositional conference on April 30.

The case was handled by Derry police due to the detective's role with the New Hampshire Crimes Against Children Task Force. Capt. Vern Thomas of the Derry Police Department also noted ICAC members from New Hampshire State Police as well as Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department Amherst, Nashua, and Portsmouth police department, as well as officers from Sandown, assisted with the investigation.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Rockingham County Superior Court and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

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