Former Middlefield Resident Gets 20 Years in Prison in Child Porn Case

A former Middlefield man who was caught recently in possession of child porn images depicting one of his relatives, and who was convicted nearly two decades ago for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl, will spend 20 years in federal prison.

Richard C. Poupart, 53, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven federal court to 240 months of imprisonment, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for possessing child pornography. He pleaded guilty last May to the charge.

The penalties in this matter were enhanced based on Poupart's previous conviction for sexual assault of a minor.

“This defendant has a history of sexually assaulting minors, and this significant sentence will protect children from future harm,” said U.S. Attorney Fein.  “I commend the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Shelton and Milford Police Departments for their expert investigation of this matter.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, in September 2007, members of the Shelton Police Department executed a state search warrant at Poupart’s Middlefield residence and seized computers, zip drives, compact discs and other electronic storage media. 

Further forensic examination of the computer evidence revealed images and videos of child pornography, including images that Poupart took of one of his minor female relatives in 2003.

On June 17, 1991, Poupart was convicted in Vermont state court of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. On July 15, 2009, Poupart was convicted in Derby Superior Court of two counts of sexual assault in the fourth degree. 

The two victims in that case were Poupart's minor female relatives, and the conduct occurred in 2006 and 2007.        

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The United States Postal Inspection Service, the Shelton Police Department and the Milford Police Department all participated in this investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anastasia King and Neeraj Patel.       

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.