For Immediate Release

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Statement of Winchester Police Chief Kenneth Albertelli On Guilty Plea of Man Who Solicited a Minor Online

WINCHESTER — Police Chief Kenneth C. Albertelli reports that a Fargo, N.D. man pleaded guilty to luring a minor by computer, which stemmed from an investigation in Winchester.

JAMES L. THOMPSON, AGE 35, OF FARGO, N.D., pleaded guilty on April 4 at Cass County District Court to a Class B felony charge of Luring a Minor by Computer.

The case against THOMPSON began in August 2014, when the father of an 11-year-old Winchester, Mass. girl contacted police after discovering suspicious messages that were sent to his daughter through the Kik messenger app.

According to officials, a Winchester Police investigator began communicating with THOMPSON using the girls’s phone. Without realizing he was talking to police, THOMPSON sent a photo of his genitals to the investigator on Aug. 11, 2014.

In exchange for his guilty plea, other charges pending against THOMPSON, including failing to register required information as an offender against children, have been dropped. THOMPSON had to register as an offender against children following his conviction of a felony child abuse or neglect charge in Barnes County in 2007.

“I commend the work of all the law enforcement agencies involved in this case, and the Winchester Police Department for their hard work in bringing this man’s crimes to light,” Chief Albertelli said. “This is a perfect example of how monitoring children’s Internet and cell phone use can prevent potentially dangerous situations. I would encourage parents and guardians to continue to be vigilant in supervising their children’s online activities and to contact police if you are ever concerned about who may be contacting your child.”

The Winchester Police Department can be reached at 781-729-1214.

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