Social Worked Arraigned On Human Trafficking Charges

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Wakefield Chief of Police Richard Smith, and Reading Chief of Police James Cormier announced on Friday afternoon that Rick Hall, 34, of Wakefield, was arraigned in Woburn District Court on charges of human trafficking of a child under 18 years of age, enticement of a child by electronic communication, posing a child in a state of nudity, and possession of child pornography.

Judge Timothy Gailey set bail at $100,000 cash and ordered the defendant to have no contact with the victims, to not use the internet or use a smart phone to access the internet, to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18, to not work with, or volunteer with anyone under the age of 18, and to surrender his passport. The next scheduled hearing in this case is Thursday, November 5.

“As a social worker, the defendant was mandated by statute to report any form of child abuse,” said District Attorney Marian Ryan. “Instead, the defendant allegedly violated the ethical standards of his position by exploiting minors, and exchanged money for lewd photographs. During this investigation, law enforcement agencies from Middlesex County and Oregon came together in order to stop the defendant’s alleged exploitation of children.”

In August, the Reading Police Department began an investigation of Rick Hall. The defendant had allegedly begun communicating electronically with three 15-year-old girls, who live out of state, and enticed them to exchange pornographic images of themselves for compensation. Hall owns North Shore Recovery Management in Reading.

“The charges brought forward yesterday stemming from the exploitation of children are extremely troubling as far too many of our youth continue to fall prey to sexual predators. I would encourage all parents to monitor their children’s activities on the Internet, including their social media activities. As helpful as the World Wide Web is, it is also fraught with dangers for our children,” Chief Cormier said.

The Division of Professional Licensure has suspended the defendant’s license pending an investigation and a hearing.

The Reading Police Department, the Wakefield Police Department, the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety, Josephine County District Attorney’s Office, and the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office are investigating this incident.

These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.