Feds Arrest Child Abuse Distributor Convict, Father Of Trans Athlete
CONCORD, NH — The father of a trans athlete, recently convicted on a child sexual abuse material distribution charge, has been arrested by the federal government after parents of children participating and attending Kearsarge Regional High School soccer games raised concerns about his presence.Marc A. Jacques, 50, was arrested on Friday on unknown charges, government sources confirmed to Patch. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday. He was out on bail on delayed sentencing after pleading guilty to a single felony count of distribution of child sexual abuse material in March. Marc Jacques is the father of Maëlle Des Lauriers Jacques, a trans athlete and goalie on the Kearsarge girls’ soccer team, and had been attending his child’s games before his arrest. During the past few weeks, parents wondered whether Maëlle Des Lauriers Jacques was legally allowed to play after the passage of HB 1205. Legal challenges have blocked the implementation of the law. Three weeks ago, several members of the Hillsboro-Deering High School girls soccer team sat out the game, due to safety concerns about playing with Maëlle Des Lauriers Jacques. On Oct. 7, Marc Jacques was seen with a cellphone at a Hopkinton vs. Kearsarge soccer game. Later, parents learned he had just been convicted on a child sexual abuse material distribution charge. A photo of him with the cell phone began circulating on Facebook and online.Bishop Brady High School in Concord was scheduled to play at Kearsarge on Friday. School officials debated the situation for two weeks after its principal, Andrea Elliot, received inquiries about canceling the game, issues at Bow High School and the pink armbands, and Marc Jacques’ conviction. Elliot did not believe there was a safety concern and stated Marc Jacques was in his vehicle at the game — something disproven by the circulating photo. After discussing the situation with the superintendent and diocese, Elliot emailed the school community. In the email, Superintendent David Thibault stated the team would play. “As Catholic Christians,” he wrote, “we will not isolate, polarize, or demonize, but instead, participate with the best sportsmanship and fairness that is endemic to Catholic formation.” Elliot said Kearsarge would also have local police and administrators on duty at the game. Behind the soccer benches, a “no fan zone perimeter” would also be instituted.The game was reportedly canceled after the team told Elliot they would not play after several fathers came forward and said they did not want their daughters playing at the game. The investigation into Marc Jacques began about three years ago. According to court documents, he uploaded 49 files of child sexual abuse material on the social media platform Kik between November and December 2021. His IP address in Newbury, as well as the residence of a girlfriend in Hopkinton, were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and were connected to at least 40 CyberTips related to online sexual exploitation of children between 2018 and 2022, as reported by Reddit, Google, Tumblr, and sendvid. A search of the Kik account found at least 26 files had been disseminated in messages during the same period. A federal search warrant of Marc Jacques and his home and vehicle was issued in June 2022.Investigators found 14 photos and 148 videos “depicting previously identified victims” on one laptop, as well as an image and five videos on a second laptop. On his iPhone, investigators found 18 images and 42 videos as well as “chats” between Marc Jacques and others “related to child exploitation and the sharing of (material).” The U.S. Attorney’s Office reported in March that “forensic examination of Jacques’ electronic devices revealed the presence of over 200 files of apparent (child sexual abuse material) as well as chats between him and others related to the sexual exploitation of children and sharing of (child sexual abuse material).”In at least one chat, Marc Jacques sent videos of the child sexual abuse materials to others. The statute for a single count was no less than five years but no more than 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The investigation involved the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children, the Nashua Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department. Last month, Jacques was sentenced to five years in prison and five years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $26,500 to five girls who were identified as victims in the photos and-or videos. “Survivors of child sexual abuse material suffer from revictimization and live every day with fear that their abuse is being shared on the internet,” U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said at the time. “Law enforcement in the District of New Hampshire will continue to utilize every resource available to disrupt the distribution of CSAM and incarcerate offenders convicted of these horrific crimes.”Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England said Jacques’ behavior was “flagged repeatedly by systems designed to detect predators sharing child sexual abuse materials,” and the sentence was “the result of the collaboration of private industry and the dedicated work of law enforcement who work together every day to see justice for the children victimized when these horrific images are produced.”Before sentencing, Marc Jacques and his legal team presented letters from his children, counselors, and others requesting leniency. In his three-page letter, Marc Jacques stated his ex-wife was opposed to his child’s gender-affirming medical care, so he was the sole supporter of his child in that decision. He said they were exploring options with the endocrinology and cryogenic departments at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, and they “will need my support.” Marc Jacques also described some of the legal activities and stress on his child since the legislature banned biological boys from playing on girls’ sports teams.Another letter was from former Boston City Councilor Larry DiCara, an attorney who was the youngest city councilor at 22 when first elected in 1972. He stated he had known Marc Jacques for more than three decades, and while acknowledging “the seriousness of the charges,” his was “a complicated personal situation.” DiCara claimed he was not receiving financial support from his ex-wife — who was now married to a woman. He also complained about the state’s new law. He suggested sentencing Marc Jacques to “extensive community service, whereby he would discuss the challenges we all face in the brave new world in which we all live due to the availability of electronic information of every possible variety, would be far more beneficial to the citizens of New Hampshire and society in general.”Despite knowledge of his crimes for years as well as six months between his guilty plea and sentencing, Marc Jacques requested a delayed prison entry — Dec. 2, to settle family matters and “to spend time with his children subsequent to sentencing will allow him to make arrangements for their wellbeing and plan for their future support.” Marc Jacques also requested to be housed at the Federal Medical Center-Devens in Massachusetts — the same facility where former U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner served time. Both requests were granted. Marc Jacques was required to make the restitution 60 days after selling his home on Old Post Road in Newbury and forfeited his computer equipment and hard drives. While his Friday arrest was confirmed, it is unknown why he was arrested. According to bail paperwork from the U.S. District Court filed in mid-March, Marc Jacques was required to refrain from possessing or using any computer, electronic communication, data storage device or media, or any Internet-capable media device unless preapproved by a probation officer. He was also required to have no access to the Internet unless preapproved. The bail conditions also said computer monitoring software or hardware would be installed on Marc Jacques’ computer, and his computer or any internal or external peripheral devices would be subject to examination. Marc Jacques was not banned, however, from using social media sites, including the one he used to share child pornography, according to the documents.While other documents related to exclusions he received were available, including a college visit out of state with his eldest son and a request to delay the sentencing from June to September to allow his eldest son to graduate high school and he could travel with him, no online documents were available showing Marc Jacques could possess a cellphone. Do you have a news tip? Please email it to [email protected]. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel. Follow the NH politics Twitter account @NHPatchPolitics for all our campaign coverage.The article Feds Arrest Child Abuse Distributor Convict, Father Of Trans Athlete appeared first on Concord, NH Patch.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings