LOWELL — A Chelmsford man, who serves as a Lowell firefighter, has been charged with possessing youngster pornography and intercourse trafficking after allegedly paying a juvenile for specific pictures.
David Silva, 35, appeared in Wrentham District Courtroom on Tuesday, the place he was ordered to be held on $25,000 money bail, in keeping with court docket paperwork. He has since posted bail, in keeping with WHDH.
The Millis Police Division stated in an incident report that the juvenile’s mother and father visited the police station in late December, apprehensive about their daughter’s inappropriate conversations with a person on the social media app Snapchat. The juvenile advised police she had by no means met the person in individual however had obtained his Snapchat contact data from an older member of the family.
The juvenile advised police that she and the person, whom she knew as James — later recognized by police as Silva — had exchanged specific images. She alleged the person had paid her roughly $500 for the varied pictures. The juvenile additionally advised police that she was conscious the person was a firefighter and believed him to be 25 years previous, in keeping with the report.
Police additionally spoke to the older member of the family concerning the man, whom she stated had randomly added her on Snapchat and immediately messaged her asking for “naked pictures.” She alleged he would ship her cash by Venmo and Apple Pay in change for specific pictures and movies. She added that she finally blocked him on Snapchat.
In line with police, by an intensive investigation involving search warrants and subpoenas after receiving this data, authorities uncovered detailed proof that established possible trigger to cost Silva, of 23 Monument Hill Highway in Chelmsford.
Police stated that Snapchat cooperated with the investigation, offering knowledge that exposed lots of of images and movies showing to depict juvenile females engaged in specific acts, a few of which happened at school school rooms and bogs.
Snapchat additionally provided data exhibiting that a number of customers had reported the account “jamessss144,” allegedly utilized by Silva, for disturbing and inappropriate conduct. In line with police, one report stated the person had despatched unsolicited sexual movies of himself, and one other stated he was “asking for feet pics when I was 16 and he was 20.”
One report stated, “I don’t know this man, he is very weird. I am very uncomfortable.”
Police stated that PayPal, the mother or father firm of Venmo, additionally cooperated with the investigation. In line with police, the Venmo account below the username “spacemob” was linked to Silva by his mailing handle, date of start, Social Safety quantity, and cellphone.
Information from December revealed that Silva had despatched almost $7,000 to varied Venmo accounts. Venmo’s be aware characteristic, which permits customers to incorporate transient descriptions of funds, contained one message stating, “Can I pay you for feet pics,” in keeping with police. Investigators additionally traced an IP handle related to the account to the Lowell Fireplace Station on Gorham Avenue, whereas one other IP handle was linked to Silva’s dwelling.
Silva was arraigned on possession of kid pornography, posing or exhibiting a toddler in a sexual act, and trafficking of an individual below 18 for sexual servitude. Silva pleaded not responsible to all the costs, that are felonies.
If he posts bail, Silva was ordered by a choose to keep away from contact with the sufferer and witnesses, chorus from unsupervised contact with minors below 18, and abstain from utilizing social media.
When requested about Silva’s standing with the Lowell Fireplace Division on Wednesday night, Metropolis Supervisor Tom Golden said that it was a personnel matter and declined to remark additional.
Silva is scheduled to return to Wrentham District Courtroom on April 1. Courtroom paperwork from his arraignment point out that Silva had an lawyer appointed for the proceedings however plans to retain non-public counsel.
Observe Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky@aaronscurtis.bsky.social.
Initially Revealed:
