Natick Man Solicited Pictures, Sex Acts From Cop Posing As 12-Year-Old Girl: DA

NATICK, MA — A Massachusetts synagogue's education director faces charges that he tried to solicit images and sex acts from an undercover police officer posing online as a 12-year-old girl.

Scott Newman, 51, of Natick, has been charged with enticement of a child under 16 and attempting to commit a crime.

These charges stem from his alleged attempt to solicit images and sexual acts from a person whom he believed to be a 12-year-old girl. Newman is alleged to have been in contact with this person online.

On July 15, Massachusetts State Police were contacted by the Defiance Police Department in Ohio about a suspect who was located in Middlesex County. That suspect, eventually identified as Newman, had been engaging in an undercover chat operation with a detective who had been posing as a 12-year-old girl, officials said.

Newman allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the undercover officer and encouraged them to send sexually explicit images. He also allegedly instructed the officer, who he believed was a minor, to keep their conversations private, officials said.

Newman also sent images of himself.

During their investigation, Defiance Police were able to identify Newman as the suspect and learned that the defendant worked in a role overseeing family education and leadership and likely worked in close proximity to children.

First reported by The Boston Globe, Newman’s LinkedIn page says, since July 2024, he's served as the director of education and engagement at Kerem Shalom in Concord.

Newman has known ties to Natick, Sudbury and Newton.

“This case underscores the very real dangers young people face online,” said District Attorney Ryan. “The defendant is alleged to have been using encrypted messaging apps to engage in sexually explicit conversations with someone he believed to be a child. He actively sought to hide those interactions from her parents and encouraged secrecy. As private messaging platforms become more common, parents and caregivers must work even harder to foster open communication and to educate children about safe internet and social media use.”

Newman was arraigned on July 18 in Framingham District Court and held on $25,000 bail. He was further ordered to surrender his passport and to have no contact with minors.

The next date in this case is Aug. 14.