Crime & Safety

Bail Set at $5k for Alleged Cyber Predator

Thomas Hutchinson, 19 of Tewksbury allegedly blackmailed a 15-year-old Medford girl into having sex with him.

A man who allegedly blackmailed a Medford teen into having sex with him was arraigned in Superior Court on eight charges Thursday.

Bail was set at $5,000 for Thomas Hutchinson, 19, of Tewksbury, according to a press release from the office of Middlesex County Attorney Gerry Leone.

Hutchinson allegedly used multiple aliases through a social networking site to coerce a 15-year-old Medford girl to send him nude photos. He used the photos to blackmail the girl into having sex with him, prosecutors said.

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Middlesex County Judge Leila Kern set the bail, which also includes conditions that Hutchinson is monitored by GPS, have no direct or indirect contact with the victim and not use computers or any device that can connect to the internet, the release said.

Hutchinson connected with the victim through the website MyYearbook.com, an online dating and social networking site, according to prosecutors.

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First, the victim met someone on the site named "Brittney," who offered to connect her to someone in the modeling industry. 

Hutchinson then sent messages to the victim from the email address Sexybeast5655@aim.com, claiming to be in the modeling industry and at first asked her to him photos of her in a bathing suit and clothes, prosecutors said. Hutchinson allegedly eventually coaxed the victim to send him naked pictures and videos.

He then threatened to post the videos and images online if the victim didn't have sex with a "friend" of his, prosecutors said. He told her if she didn't agree to have sex with his friend, he would rape her, prosecutors said.

Hutchinson allegedly used a third handle, Tommy364587@aim.com, to arrange to meet the victim. He picked her up at her Medford home and allegedly forced her to perform a sex act on him in his car.

Hutchinson is currently charged with rape of a child by force, assault with intent to rape a child, child enticement, attempted extortion, indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, possession of child pornography, and posing a child in states of nudity and sexual conduct. But he could face more charges.

A search of Hutchinson's home and car performed by Medford and Tewksbury police turned up photos and chats with dozens of other females, many whom appeared to be underage, prosecutors said. His computer also allegedly contained numerous images and videos of child pornography.

Hutchinson turned himself in to Medford Police on July 8. He was previously arraigned in Somerville District Court in July and indicted by a Middlesex County grand jury in October.

His next court date is Jan. 18 for a pre-trial conference.


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