NASHUA – When Nashua police, working in concert with the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, developed information last month that 25-year-old Nashua resident Michael A. Carter may be in possession of child pornography, they obtained a search warrant, then issued a warrant for Carter’s arrest.

At about 2 p.m. Wednesday, police said, members of the department’s Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Unit went to Carter’s residence at 9 New St., Unit A, took him into custody, and transported him to police headquarters for booking.

Carter, a six-year military veteran who, according to his attorney, battles mental health issues including post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), was booked on five counts of possession of child sexual abuse images – subsequent offense, and another five counts of distribution of child sexual abuse images – subsequent offense.

In a post-arrest interview, according to police, Carter admitted to downloading and distributing such images, and allegedly told police why: “To attract the attention of police, due to a relationship he is in, which he believes is becoming unsafe.”

At Carter’s bail hearing Thursday in Hillsborough County Superior Court-South, Assistant County Attorney Brett Harpster asked Judge Jacalyn Colburn to house Carter on preventive detention, describing him as an “absolute danger to the community.”

Harpster also said Carter has one prior conviction on his record: For possessing child pornography nearly a year ago while he was in the military.

Tried and convicted, Carter was given a 12-month sentence in military jail, but released on good behavior after serving eight months, according to attorney Freda Spencer, who represented Carter at the bail hearing.

Carter did register as a sex offender as required, Harpster said, but moved to Nashua soon afterward and has “been non-compliant with registering since then.”

Spencer, in asking for personal recognizance bail, said Carter “wants to address these issues right now,” referring to mental health. She said Carter enlisted in the military, and served a tour of active duty overseas.

Colburn, the judge, ordered preventive detention “based on the record before me,” she told Carter. She also admitted she “is not sure what to make of” his alleged comments to police that “you were doing this intentionally to attract police attention.”

Police, meanwhile, said the investigation “remains active and ongoing,” and asked anyone with any additional information on the case to contact the department at 603-594-3500.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256, or at dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

Newsletter