Convicted sex offender charged with sexual exploitation of children in Massachusetts

A Greenfield man was charged in federal court in Springfield on Wednesday with sexual exploitation of children and receipt of child pornography.

Charles Fox, 44, was charged with one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of receipt of child pornography. Fox was arrested yesterday and appeared in federal court in Springfield. He was remanded to custody while the Judge takes the matter of detention under advisement.

According to the charging document, Fox induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing an image or video of that conduct. It is also alleged that Fox received child pornography.

As a previously-convicted sex offender, Fox faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years and up to 50 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of receipt of child pornography, carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 40 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.