Former Maine special education teacher sentenced to 65 years after child exploitation case
BANGOR, Maine — A Maine man was sentenced Friday to 65 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the Bangor Police Department.
Patrik Arsenault, 28 of Norridgewock, was also ordered to serve a lifetime supervised release by U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. following his prison sentence. Arsenault pleaded guilty July 8, 2014.
"Despicable crimes like this rob our children of their innocence. We entrust teachers to serve as role models for our children and safeguard their welfare. As this sentence makes clear, when that trust is violated, there will be severe consequences," said Bruce Foucart, special agent in charge of HSI Boston. "This case should also serve as a stern warning to those who mistakenly believe cyberspace affords them anonymity on the Internet to sexually exploit children with impunity."
According to court records, in June and July of 2013, Arsenault, a former special education teacher, sexually abused three minors and recorded images and videos of the abuse. He then sent recordings of the abuse, as well as other images of child pornography, to several email trading partners. Arsenault also received images of child pornography from his trading partners.
On Aug. 21, 2013, agents seized a hard drive during the execution of a search warrant at Arsenault’s residence. A forensic examination revealed videos and images of his abuse of the minors and over 7,500 images and 250 videos depicting child pornography.
District of Maine U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II commended the work of HSI Special Agent Anthony Castellanos, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the Bangor Police Department noting that, “This case was quickly solved because these law enforcement agencies worked closely together. It was their hard work and diligence in identifying the defendant after his activity had been discovered that brought him to justice. These cases are very difficult because of the subject matter, but also because of the necessity to link the defendant to the disturbing images and online conduct. The agents continued persistence also limited the exposure of the minors to further exploitation. People who engage in this conduct should expect to receive very lengthy sentences.”
This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 12,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.
For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.
HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.
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