Merrimack Man Faces 10 Felony Possession Of Child Abuse Image Charges

MERRIMACK, NH — A Merrimack man has been arrested and accused of 10 counts of possession of child abuse images as part of an investigation that spanned more than a year.

Hooksett police were notified by Google that child abuse images were potentially detected in June 2021. The case was referred to New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children (NH ICAC) task force and police, based on the IP address of where the images were located.

Detectives in Hooksett began investigating the claim, which led them to a Maple Street address in town, according to an affidavit. At that time, court paperwork indicated Kyre Walsh of Maple Street was a person of interest.

Additional tips regarding child abuse images came to NH ICAC from DropBox and KIK, the report said.

Authorities viewed the images from the tips and verified they were child sex abuse images, investigators said.

Hooksett police later learned Walsh was no longer living on Maple Street. An investigation with United State Postal Service authorities led police and task force members to Amherst Road in Merrimack.

Investigators, through surveillance, verified Walsh was living at the address and executed a search warrant on Aug. 9, according to an affidavit. Several items were removed from the house including electronic equipment.

Walsh indicated to them that “a large amount of child abuse images were on a thumb drive in his room,” according to the affidavit. He said in an interview with investigators he had wanted to meet a young girl who was 12 to 14 years old but was “ghosted,” and she didn’t show up, the report said. Walsh indicated later in a polygraph exam he thought about having sexual contact with minors.

Several images located are cited in court documents describing adults allegedly having sexual interaction with minors and babies.

Walsh was arrested and charged with 10 felony counts of possession of child abuse images.

Authorities said they were continuing to process items removed when they executed the search warrant on Amherst Road.

Walsh was held on preventative detention but released on bail.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news